Water: More precious than Gold

TIMBARRA INFO

http://www.green.net.au/adan/timb/info.htm

The Timbarra Plateau region is located approximately 25 kms south-east of Tenterfield and 100kms from Casino and Grafton. It is a unique High Altitude Wetlands covering 16,000 hectares with 11,000 hectares being relatively undisturbed. It contains several types of lands and vegetation types classified into Wetland communities, Dry Heath Forest, Dry Sclerophyll Forest and Woodlands, Wet sclerophyll forest and Rainforest. Ground water on the Timbarra Plateau from the high rainfall levels as well as spring water that rises from the artesian basin, form the feeder creeks in the Upper Clarence Catchment Area. These creeks merge to form the Timbarra/Rocky River which flows down to Grafton as the Clarence River, then joins the ocean at Yamba.

The Timbarra region contains protected species of flora and fauna identified as threatened or endangered on the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Water run-off quality is being monitored in the area by the Environmental Protection Authority due to concerns by local residents that the amount of silt and other particles in their long term drinking water is being contaminated by the excavation already underway at the Timbarra Gold Mine Project.

The Aboriginal tradition holds the Timbarra sacred, a place of communion with God. Initiation cycles lasting two years climaxed on this plateau. The sites contain many rare and sacred artefacts such as Scar trees, engravings and stone marked sites. Bold Top Mountain, an arrangement of granite tors, is a spectacular natural wonder and a sacred Aboriginal place. This area is yet to be gazetted as a mythological site by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Has this been done?

Local residents in the Timbarra region have formed an alliance with the Native Title Claimants to oppose the granting of a water license that will enable Ross Mining to draw half a million litres of water a day from Nelson Creek to start the gold processing.

A lease was granted to Ross Mining in April 1996 for a 400 hectare gold mine to be located within the Poverty Point and Tin Can Swamp areas on the Timbarra Plateau. The gold is extracted using the heap leach pad method. Arsenic released from the cyanide processing will be a by-product. This mine will release less than one gram of gold per tonne of granite processed.

As part of the lease process agreement, Ross Mining was required to produce an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the Department of Mineral Resources.

Ross Mining has become a signatory to the Mineral Council of Australiaís Code for Environmental Management regarding progressive rehabilitation, annual reporting and continual improvement.

The objectives of the Timbarra Direct Action are: to ensure the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) provided by Ross Mining to the Department of Mineral Resources is adhered to; that the Environmental Protection Authority and the Department of Mineral Resources be informed of all situations that are observed regarding environmental damage in the form of erosion, destruction of aboriginal sites, to ensure that tracks and drill pads at the Timbarra Gold Project were stabilised and rehabilitated to suitable standards.

Timbarra Direct Action, Timbarra Protection Coalition and The North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) are dedicated to ensuring that this pristine and unique wilderness area is preserved.

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