The Mineral Policy Institute - Declaration to be taken to Barrick Gold AGM

"Don't desecrate our dreaming site,

Don't mine our sacred site.

I have fought Barrick in the courts for over two years.

Now it is time for us all to work together

To stop this disaster waiting to happen"

Traditional Owner, Neville 'Chappy' Williams, May 2004

Lake Cowal is an ephemeral lake situated 47km north-east of West Wylong in

central western New South Wales, Australia. The lake is included in the

Australian register of the National Estate and in it's directory of

important wetlands.

Transnational mining corporation, Barrick Gold, have a mining lease

encompassing approx 2650 hectares of this integral part of Australia's

Murray-Darling basin.

The mining lease includes two cyanide tailing dams and an open-pit, 1km wide

and 325 meters deep, to produce an estimated 2.7 million ounces of gold over

a 13-year operation plan.

Lake Cowal is the sacred heartland of the Wiradjuri Nation, part of the

central ceremonial ground of one of the largest indigenous nations of

Australia. As the oldest peoples on earth this region is rich with ancient

artifacts and sacred sites.

Barrick Gold and their predecessors have not properly consulted with many

aboriginal Traditional Owners from the region. This has created division

among local community many of whom have declared their opposition to the

Lake Cowal gold mine project.

Listed under two International Migratory Birds Agreement (CAMBA & JAMBA)

Lake Cowal is home to many endangered flora and fauna species. 277 species

of birds have been recorded or are considered as possible occurrences in the

Lake Cowal Region.

Barrick have been granted a license to take 17 million litres of water a day

in a region where a moratorium on new water licenses has been enforced

because of the severity of drought.

A substantial amount of water will be used in the cyanide tailings damns

turning precious water into a deadly poison that threatens significant

ecosystems, flora and fauna, and communities along major waterways that run

through three states of Australia: New South Wales; Victoria and South

Australia.

-------------------------

SIGNED: THE COALITION TO PROTECT LAKE COWAL

Mooka/Kalara Traditional Owners Council Inc.

Friends of the Earth - Australia

Melbourne Friends of Lake Cowal Collective

Nature Conservation Council (Sydney)

Central West Branch TWS (Orange)

Mineral Policy Institute (Sydney)

The Greens NSW (Sydney)

Rainforest Information Centre (Lismore)

Central West Environment Council

Nimbin Environment Centre (Nimbin)

Peacebus

Clarence Environment Centre (Grafton)

Birds Australia

Mission Beach Environmental Management Group Inc. (Queensland)

Big Scrub (Lismore)

The Coalition to End Open Cut Gold Mining - Victoria

SOS Bergama Collective, (Sydney, NSW)

Humane Society International - Australia

Timbarra Café/Timbarra Action Group (Nimbin)

Mudgee District Environment Group (Mudgee, NSW)

Albury Wodonga Environment Centre

Western Region Environment Centre (Melbourne)

For more information, please contact:

Igor O'Neill

Workphone: +62 21 794 1672
Mobile: +62 81 286 12 286

Declaration to be taken to Barrick Gold AGM

Created: 01 Jan 1970 | Last updated: 27 Apr 2005

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