Fin Hansen, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

A joint Consortium Agreement has been adopted to help progress Moonta Mines’ world heritage bid.

The Australian Cornish Mining Sites World Heritage Consortium will enable Copper Coast Council, Regional Council of Goyder (encompassing Burra) and the National Trust of South Australia to work towards their final step in gaining World Heritage Listing.

The agreement sets out a range of objectives for the three parties, including sharing information in the progression of the project, endeavoring to pro- vide equal cash contributions and in-kind support for the necessary work to achieve World Heritage Listing, and ensuring consultation occurs between the parties, stakeholders, government agencies and the general public.

Mayor Roslyn Talbot signed the agreement last Wednesday, May 10.

“The consortium formalizes our partnership with the Regional Council of Goyder and National Trust as we work towards the same outcome (achieving World Heritage Listing for Moonta Mines and Burra),” Mrs Talbot said.

“Our bid has been endorsed by the state government, now we just need the federal government to put it forward.

“I believe we’ve got a very worthy bid, but I appreciate this needs to go through the process — if they handed World Heritage Status out to everybody it wouldn’t be so significant.

“We’ll continue to promote and refine the bid while taking a collaborative approach where necessary.” National Trust SA CEO Darren Peacock said the listing would continue to grow momentum under the joint consortium.

“Both Burra and Moonta Mines sites are recognised globally for their Cornish heritage,” Mr Peacock said.

“It’s now about pulling together evidence to show why the sites are worthy of World Heritage Listing.”

This article appeared in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 16 May 2023.