There Is A Bad Smell In The Air...

Details

Published: Friday, 12 August 2016 16:06

...And It Is Not The Opal Vale Tip

On the 15th of December 2015 the Toodyay Shire used the last council meeting for 2015 to usher in a much contested M.6 policy on mining.

The Toodyay Council have always maintained a so called neutral stance on mining and in the Agenda for the January Ordinary Shire meeting, the Shire Officer (CEO Stan Scott) included a DRAFT mining policy (which he had previously written) called the M.6 mining policy..

It is important to note that there is no other Local Government (Shires) in WA that have adopted a policy on mining. There is a good reason for that, Local Governments can neither grant nor refuse a mining application, as these approvals are only done at State and Federal Government levels.

Having said that the Shire of Coorow wrote and adopted a policy on FRACKING and the same policy was also adopted by the shire of Carnamah. This policy combines Petroleum (Fracking), Mining and Extractive industries. We have it on good authority that the Toodyay Shire Officer was in possession of this policy prior to writing his own version for the Toodyay Shire.

Here is the link to read the full Coorow “Policy – Economic Services”, pages 44 - 46:

When the M.6 policy was first introduced in January 2015 and went out for public comment calling for submissions, AHMAG and other concerned members of the community wrote 22 submissions which outlined many concerns about the policy, as the policy gives council the ability to have close contact with mining proponents prior to having an operational business model approved by the regulatory authorities such as the DMP, the EPA and the DER.

ONE OF THE MAIN ITEMS OF CONCERN IN THE M.6 MINING POLICY IS THIS STATEMENT:

Council delivers many services, projects, events and facilities. There may be occasions where these services, projects, events and facilities are sponsored or co-funded by a mining proponent. Such funding or sponsorship will not dilute Council’s commitments as set out in this policy.

AHMAG COMMENT:

Council own the Bendigo Bank Building and when the adjoining building alongside the Bank became available in 2014, there were a number of applicants including Bauxite Alumina Joint Ventures (BAJV) who applied for the premises and instead of remaining neutral and choosing a neutral tenant, Council had the ultimate say and chose BAJV as co-tenants with the Bendigo Bank.

Council co-sponsor the Toodyay Ag Show with BAJV which enables BAJV to advertise themselves throughout the community alongside the Toodyay Shire.

How can council remain Neutral when they are DERIVING AN INCOME from BAJV? This is not a neutral stance on mining this is promoting a would be miner and definitely dilutes the ability to be impartial on mining in anyway.

How can the Toodyay Council stand up and speak out on behalf of their constituents under clause 120 of the mining act, when clearly they have a conflict of interest with the mining proponents.

COOROW POLICY – ECONOMIC SERVICES… PETROLEUM, MINING AND EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES POLICY

It should also be noted that in the Coorow policy it does not mention that the Coorow council would be involved in any co funding or sponsorship with mining proponents, this is a Toodyay Shire initiative.

IN THE POLICY THE KEY OBJECTIVES STATE THE FOLLOWING:

OBJECTIVES:

• To ensure that local values relating to lifestyle and quality of life, including public health, amenity, biodiversity, water (both surface and ground), and other economic sectors (such as agriculture and tourism) are adequately considered and protected from such development or expansion of any extractive industry activity in the Shire of Coorow.
• To ensure that any extractive industry activity is thoroughly assessed, monitored and managed effectively to meet all conditions of development consent, and endeavor to continuously improve operational practices to reduce environmental impacts wherever practicable.
• To ensure petroleum and mining companies build a commitment to best practice standards for petroleum and mining activity in the shire of Coorow, and actively participate in local communities.

AHMAG COMMENT:

There is a world of difference between the Coorow policy and the M.6 mining policy just adopted by the Toodyay Council. These are the Objectives recently adopted by Toodyay:

OBJECTIVES:

• To ensure that Council staff and the Community have an understanding of
  Councils role in mining approvals;
• To provide an agreed policy position for Council’s advocacy with mining
  proponents and approval agencies.

COOROW SHIRE COMMUNITY CONSULTATION:
In respect to current and future proposals for on-shore petroleum or other extractive industries council will:
a. Effectively consult communities within the shire regarding onshore petroleum developments and represent the concerns and interests of these communities in decision making on all matters relating to developments:
b. Assume a leadership role in negotiating with state Government and resource companies to ensure that any petroleum or mineral resource projects in the Shire provide benefit to the community, and individuals within the community where appropriate:
c. Ensure that the protection of the health of communities and the protection of the ground water resources is afforded the highest priority in decision – making by the Shire:
d. Support and advocate for the rights of communities and residents within the Shire to clean water, clean air and enjoyment of land without pollution or nuisance:
e. Facilitate an open dialogue and discussion within the community of all stakeholders, based on the sharing of accurate information to encourage an informed debate about issues related to mining.

TOODYAY M.6 MINING POLICY COMMUNITY CONSULTATION:
Council supports transparency and full disclosure of project developments to the community as soon as is reasonably practicable within the constraints of proponents’ continuous disclosure obligations. The Shire is unable to take on aproponent’s responsibility to keep the community informed. Any Shire consultation activities will be in accordance with Council Policy M2 – Public Consultation.

AHMAG COMMENT:

Coorow Shire will effectively consult communities within their shire. Toodyay however put the onus back onto the mining and exploration companies, this is why we were never told of the exploration that had been going on in the Toodyay Shire since early 2011.

Then when the news broke in the Toodyay Herald in 2014 and we started asking questions as to why we were not informed by the Toodyay Shire, Council threw their hands in the air and blamed BAJV for the information vacuum.

Here is the link to read the full Toodyay M.6 Mining policy, Item 9.5.2, pages 28 - 30

AHMAG COMMENT:

Unlike the Policy adopted by Coorow the M.6 Mining policy does not pack any of the punch that you would expect of a Council whose main interests were the protection of the communities that are located within the Shire and to protect the amenity and lifestyles of those communities where they can enjoy, clean air, clean water, enjoyment of land without pollution or nuisance, agriculture, tourism etc.

The Toodyay Council sat on this very flawed M.6 Mining policy for the whole of 2015 and it was not until 4 new councillors occupied seats in the chamber, the last council meeting for the year and a special meeting for the Toodyay Herald which saw a packed house at the Toodyay Resource Centre that the policy was put back on the Agenda.

Was this a ploy to avoid another packed public gallery opposing the policy so that it would just slip through at the Eleventh hour?

You be the judge, but something does not smell right at 15 Fiennes Street, (Council Chambers) Toodyay Western Australia 6566.

AHMAG