Greens move to protect communities from excessive mining

Today in Parliament the Greens moved a Bill to ensure that planning schemes can override mining tenements meaning that Perth Hills residents will have protection from mining activities.

Greens MLC, Giz Watson, today introduced a bill to amend the Mining Act 1978.

The Bill seeks to achieve two things, to expand the discretion of the Minister for Mines to exempt any land from mining and to make any application for the grant of a mining tenement subject to planning instruments.

If passed this would mean that Perth hills communities currently under threat from bauxite mining would have a mechanism by which to ensure that these mining activities could not ignore existing planning schemes.

The Bill has been enthusiastically welcomed by Greens MLC for the East Metropolitan Region, Alison Xamon.

“For two long Hills residents have lived with the threat that their way of life could be irreparably damaged by the activities of mining companies encroaching into what is actually metropolitan Perth, Ms Xamon said.

“Some of these tenements are extremely old and were granted at a time when Perth was far smaller and mining operations considerably less intrusive.  Local Councils and residents should have the power to determine what activities are right for their regions, and this Bill helps to facilitate that.

"This bill will deliver to local communities the power to reflect in their planning schemes what land uses they want without the Mining Act's power of veto rendering such schemes merely advisory.

"I call on the other political parties to support the bill and provide certainty to communities who live with the constant threat that their lifestyles and properties will be permanently damaged,” Ms Xamon concluded.