The Hon. Tom Koutsantonis, Minister for Energy and Mining (SA), Media Release, 1 May 2023
The ‘Bird in Hand’ gold deposit area at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills has been proclaimed by the Governor at the request of the State Labor Government, protecting it from future mining applications.
The land protected under the proclamation is the same area that was subject to a previous development application by Terramin Australia, with the move effectively prohibiting any future applications over the known Bird in Hand gold deposit.
This is a mechanism that has been successfully used in the past to protect the Mintabie Town Lease Area and the Burra Monster Mine Historic Area – and continues to preserve those areas’ unique environmental and heritage qualities.
The newly proclaimed area is specifically targeted at the Bird in Hand mineral deposit, and no broader.
It follows Minister for Energy and Mining Tom Koutsantonis’s decision in February to decline Terramin’s application to develop the Bird In Hand gold underground mine.
Terramin’s concept for its proposed Bird in Hand mine, and related applications for a Mining Lease and a Miscellaneous Purpose Licence, underwent comprehensive assessment by government, including an eight-week statutory public consultation.
The minister took into account a range of relevant considerations, including broader state interests such as potential socio-economic and amenity impacts and the effect on existing industries – including tourism – and the local community.
While the proposed mine would have had a short-term life, the potential impact on surrounding businesses – including world-class wineries such as Petaluma and Bird In Hand – and associated regional tourism could have longer-term implications
The minister wrote to Terramin in March to advise the company of his intention to seek a proclamation by the Governor, under provisions of Section 8 of the Mining Act.
The effect of this reservation will be to prevent future applications for mineral tenements in this area. It will not restrict Terramin’s ability to undertake any required rehabilitation activities associated with previous exploration in the area.
Terramin was invited to make a submission prior to a decision being made. No submission was made by the company before the advised date.
Quotes attributable to Tom Koutsantonis:
This was an important and necessary step to protect against future attempts to mine this deposit.
We want to ensure local tourism businesses – including world-class wineries – as well as the local amenity of this area remain protected.
Tourism is a vital contributor to this region’s local economy and the risk that a short-term mining development could pose to established and significant long-term agricultural and tourism industries is too great, and would be contrary to the state’s broader interests.
In circumstances where it is determined mining operations are not compatible with a particular area, it is important to shift the primary control over any future potential applications to the Government. This mechanism will ensure full control by Government over the ability for anyone to make future applications for mineral tenements over this small area.
The Adelaide Hills region enjoys a well-earned clean, green reputation, and this must be safeguarded.
That was the basis for my decision in February to decline Terramin’s application to develop this mine. By protecting the Bird In Hand mine area under proclamation, we will ensure that decision holds firm both now and into the future.
