Explorative mining in the Manning Valley not only risks the release of asbestos into the environment, but the NSW Government has also ignored the risk to the valley’s water supply. What’s the scam?
The scam is how the NSW Department of Resources has made a mockery of the risk by imposing a mere $10,000 ‘surety’ on MCI Carbon to mitigate that and other risks associated with their exploration.
Bruce Robertson, President of the Manning Against Mining Alliance (MAMA), told MWM it is “not enough to fund a study on what to do to tackle any problem, let alone actually do anything!”
MCI Carbon License “obligation”
MCI Carbon has a license to explore for Serpentine, a mineral known to contain asbestos, which is illegal to mine or use in Australia. The exploration activities are just 1.3km from Mt George, a village on the edge of the Manning River floodplain and very close to the source of the valley’s drinking water. Despite that, the department observed that the mining leases were “Not in drinking water catchment”.
Robertson points out that although MCI Carbon’s license is exploratory only, “Mining exploration often leads to mining. It appears that little consideration was given in the granting of MCI Carbon’s exploration licence to the future water needs of the mid-north coast.”
Mining is a large water user for dust suppression, and water in the valley is not abundant. The potential of a large-scale mine adds to the even bigger asbestos risk for Manning Valley residents.
Carbon Capture project risks asbestos contamination in Manning Valley
Kim Wingerei is a businessman turned writer and commentator. He is passionate about free speech, human rights, democracy and the politics of change. Originally from Norway, Kim has lived in Australia for 30 years. Author of ‘Why Democracy is Broken – A Blueprint for Change’.