Exploration program in D'Entrecasteaux National Park to continue

16/10/93

Cable Sands (WA) Pty Ltd will be allowed to continue its exploration program in the D'Entrecasteaux National Park under rigid environmental conditions.

Mines Minister George Cash said the decision to grant the company 12 exploration licences essentially formalised the permission given to Cable Sands by the previous Labor government in January, 1992.

Mr Cash said Cable Sands would be required to comply with the provisions of six Acts covering Mining, Environmental Protection, Wildlife Conservation, Aboriginal Heritage, Conservation and Land Management and Heritage.

Exploration drilling would be carried out under stringent conditions approved by the Minister for the Environment in line with the recommendations of the Public Environmental Review in 1991.

The Government had assessed Cable Sands' compliance with environmental protection statutes since beginning activity in the park and found that it had fully met its responsibilities.

Mr Cash said this was a major factor in the decision to grant formal exploration licences.

"The conditions will restrict drilling to dry soil only and compel the company to implement a dieback hygiene program, backfill all drill holes and rehabilitate all disturbed areas to the satisfaction of the Department of Conservation and Land Management," he said.

"The prospectivity of all off-track areas would be assessed by geologists with the Department of Minerals and Energy, with access being approved in advance by CALM."

Cable Sands originally applied for exploration licences over the park in 1986, and the previous Labor government consented to limited exploration in 1992 in line with its Resolution of Conflict policy.

Mr Cash said the granting of exploration licences changed little in respect to the nature or extent of exploration activity.

However, it gave the company security of title which did not exist under the more informal arrangement approved by the previous government, and which was due to expire in March, 1994.

"Continued exploration in the South-West region is important to improve geological knowledge and to establish the nature and extent of its mineral resources," the Minister said.

"Approval for the exploration licences does not presume approval to mine - permission to mine can only be granted following agreement by both Houses of Parliament.

"Also, if an economically viable mineral sands deposit was discovered, a full public environmental assessment would need to be completed before a request to mine could be considered by Government."

Media contact: Dean Roberts 222 9211