 |
|
|
Mineral Sands Mining in the Murray Darling Basin
 |
|
|
The currently drought afflicted, heavily salinated and over utilised Murray Darling Basin (MDB) is facing yet another layer of exploitation within its boundaries. Mineral sand deposits have been discovered in the region and a sand mining industry raked by controversy from operations in WA and along the east coast of Australia, is moving in to capitalise on these discoveries amid growing global demand for Titanium products.
Over 100 separate deposits have been discovered in what is one of Australia's most ecologically sensitive areas and the extraction of these deposits from multiple mines and processing plants poses an unacceptable threat to the people and environment of the region.
The Mineral Policy Institute (MPI) is currently investigating the development of this mineral sands province across the Murray Darling Basin, in partnership with WWF, Nature Conservation Council, Environment Victoria, Australian Conservation Foundation and the Victorian National Parks Association and is working closely with many other environment and community groups.
These mining proposals cross three states and pose an unqualified threat to the regions ecological integrity. The Murray-Darling river system is struggling with salinity while environmental flows take second place to economic development. The potential for pollution from these mining operations is significant and presents a clear threat to groundwater, flora and fauna as well as local communities.
Much industry hype surrounds the proposed development with the region being touted by the mining industry as a major new global mineral sands province of "immense" potential. Proponents of the development claim $13bn of raw minerals in the Basin although the technology to extract all of this is not yet available as most of the deposits are in fine-grained deposits.
There are however significant coarse-grained beach placer deposits which are more economically viable and the mining of these pose a unwarranted threat to biodiversity and conservation values in the region.
For more information, please contact:
Techa Beaumont
Executive Director
Workphone: +61 2 9557 9019
Mobile: +61 (0) 409 318 406
Created: 29 Oct 2004 | Last updated: 29 Oct 2004
 Print this page 
Email to a friend Return to top
|
|
|
|
|
