Two public meetings will be held on April 12 and April 19 to discuss the implications of a mining exploration licence application lodged last year which covers an area of about 90sqkm west of Denmark.
The April 12 meeting will be held in the Kentdale Hall, 341 Parker Road on Tuesday, April 12 from 5-6.30pm and on Tuesday, April 19 in the Scotsdale Hall, 583 Scotsdale Road, also from 5-6.30 pm.
The Denmark Environment Centre-organised meetings will focus on an exploration licence which United Funds Pty Ltd lodged on May 21, 2021 with the Mining Warden’s Court.
The application is still pending and the Shire of Denmark was notified of the application, but did not object.
The Denmark Environment Centre was not informed.
DEC convenor Bart Lebbing said public perception of the Denmark region as a tourism attraction with pristine forests and an unspoiled coast would be undermined if an exploration licence succeeded.
He said the DEC had confronted similar proposals, when a mining lease application was made.
“This time it may only be an exploration licence but it could quickly become a mining proposal,” Mr Lebbing said.
The proposed exploration licence covers land 16km west of Denmark adjoining William Bay National Park and near Parry Inlet.
Mr Lebbing said the Denmark shire relied on primary production, nature-based tourism, education, art and craft enterprises, viticulture and the service industry.
“Mineral exploration and mining do not value-add to these sectors, but compromise their viability,” he said.
Also a successful licence application countered the Denmark 2027 Strategic Community Plan which requires the natural environment to be carefully managed to meet the needs of the community, now and in the future.
“The Strategic Community Plan underpins everything that we do in the shire.” Mr Lebbing said.
“Landholders and tourism operators who enjoy the scenic views from Scotsdale and McLeod Roads may be in for a shock if this application is successful.
“Denmark’s beautiful rolling hills, grazing sheep and cattle, and native vegetation could be turned into a mine-site.”
Previous applications had been for mineral sand mining, with significant on and off-site impacts.
The proposed location is on deep sands where leaching of pollutants into the local watertable is possible.
Such contaminants would travel down watercourses to Parry Inlet, Owingup and Quarram Nature Reserves, which played a significant role in the local environment.
For further information contact Bart Lebbing 0477 269 295 or Geoff Evans 0488 933 828.
This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 7 April 2022.
