The Clarence Catchment Alliance CCA, local environmental groups and residents are calling for immediate action as mining exploration for antimony and tungsten escalates across the Wild Cattle Creek area near Dorrigo; a sensitive part of the drinking water catchment relied on by more than 80,000 people in the Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour regions.
The affected waterways include the Clarence and Nymboida Rivers, which are essential for farming, fisheries, tourism, and the daily water needs of multiple communities.
They also support Eastern Freshwater Cod, platypus, koalas, and intersect with Aboriginal cultural sites that are deeply significant to Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl peoples.
CCA Coordinator Shae Fleming told the CV Independent she had been involved in the organisation for 8 years and seen the number of mining exploration licences grow to more than 40 within the Clarence catchment, some next to the Mann, the Clarence, and the Nymboida Rivers.
She said the historic mine site in the Wild Cattle Creek area previously remained dormant, until it recently changed ownership and conducted core sample drilling.
“There’s three new exploration licences up there, and it’s really scary because they go right across the Wild Cattle Creek area, they go along the Tallowwood Ridge, it’s right in our drinking water catchment,” she said.
Ms Fleming said when historical core samples from the antimony and tungsten mine were being moved recently, they fell off a truck onto Bielsdown Bridge and into a creek.
“Somebody from up there that witnessed it reported it to the Environmental Protection Authority EPA, and they were pretty satisfied that it was all ok, they have followed it up,” she said.
“For us, its just a red flag.
“Our concerns are obvious, not just up there, but right across the Clarence catchment, because this is a flood zone, and any type of mineral mining activity creates tailings.
“If they are approved and go to open cut mineral mines, which is what they are proposing across the area, or mountain top removal, like up in Carnham, at the headwaters of the Mann and the Clarence, what’s going to happen to tailings dams when it floods.”
Companies with exploration licences or licence applications lodged in the area include Trigg Minerals Limited, Scorpio Resources Pty Ltd, and Hillgrove Mines Pty Ltd, while United Antimony was granted an exploration licence on January 28, 2025, and Trigg Antimony lodged applications for two exploration licences in February and March 2025.
“There’s another company up there, near the headwaters of the Clarence and Mann Rivers, Corazon…they’ve been given state and federal funding and they’re the most progressed,” Ms Fleming said.
Ms Fleming said Under the NSW Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy, exploration licences are being fast-tracked, with one approved just four months after application.
“More have followed, many bordering national parks and endangered species habitat,” she said.
“Local landholders have now begun receiving access requests for drilling, with no prior consultation.”
Ms Fleming said the CCA is calling for an immediate halt to exploratory licences across the water catchment, a full review of licence approvals, and political support for a Notice of Motion tabled by Clarence MP Richie Williamson to strengthen protections for the Clarence River Catchment.
She said it was fantastic to recently receive the support of NSW Nationals leader, Dugald Saunders.
To find out more a Public Awareness Community Meeting is being hosted by the Bellingen Environment Centre, with Blicks River Guardians and Lock the Gate Nambucca, from 2pm on Friday May 31 at 16 Cudgery St, Dorrigo.
To voice your opposition to mining in the Clarence catchment, submit a stakeholder statement at www.clarencecatchmentalliance.com.au/get-involved/#submissions.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 14 May 2025.
