JUST days after a bid to mine gold in the Perth Hills became public, the Chinese mining company behind the plan withdrew the application.
HD Mining and Investment Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology, submitted an audacious application to the WA Department of Petroleum and Mines on December 5 to explore for gold and copper over a 150sq km area.
The proposed mining zone included two national parks and an area around Perth airport, High Wycombe, Maida Vale, Forrestfield, Kalamunda, Lesmurdie, Wattle Grove and suburbs further south.
The Shire of Kalamunda, politicians and residents all expressed outrage over the proposal, claiming it would ruin the environment in the region.
Liberal MP for Hasluck Ken Wyatt said a large amount of his electorate fell within the proposed area, prompting more than 50 constituents to contact his office when news of the application broke.
Member for Forrestfield Andrew Waddell also expressed his disapproval.
Department of Mines and Petroleum spokeswoman Samantha Cairns said HD Mining indicated it had reconsidered its decision to apply for an exploration licence over such a large and diverse area of the metropolitan area.
General manager of the Chinese-based miner, Thom Yorke, declined to comment when asked by the Hills Gazette about his reasons for withdrawing the application.
Shire of Kalamunda President Donald McKechnie said the Shire first became aware of the application on December 20 and it had been in the process of drafting an official objection and bringing the item to Council, when it was withdrawn.
Mr Wyatt later expressed his relief that the application had been pulled.
“I am pleased to say that media attention on this has forced the company to reconsider its application,” he said.
“The thought that an overseas-owned company could obtain a licence such as this worried a lot of people. I am glad it has now been resolved.”
Mr Waddell said while he was thrilled HD Mining had backed away from the proposal, he had concerns it was not immediately ruled out by the State Government in the first place.
“The issue remains unresolved until the Barnett Government categorically rules out mining exploration licences in the metropolitan area,” he said.
Department of Mines and Petroleum spokeswoman Samantha Cairns said landowners would be required to give their full consent for any digging to occur in the first 30m of their land, should there be any future mining application.
She said the Mining Act provided for exploration below 30m without involving the owner.
“Any company would not have access to the surface of the land, without negotiating the consent of the landholder,” Ms Cairns said.
“Where private land is affected, shires must be notified by the applicant within 14 days of application lodgement.”
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