Thursday 16 November 2017
Hansard of the Legislative Council
Beaconsfield Gold Mine - Environmental Bond

 Mr FINCH (Rosevears)  to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

[2.36 p.m.]

1. I would like some information regarding the environmental bond of more than $2 million for the Beaconsfield gold mine.  Is that bond still being held?
   
   
2. Is the Government aware there are still environmental issues that could arise from the mine's tailing ponds?
   
   
3. Was accessing the environment bond considered when raising money to remedy the collapsed mine shaft?

ANSWER
Mr President, I thank the member for Rosevears for his question.

1. Mineral Resources Tasmania continues to hold a $300 000 security deposit in the form of an unconditional pay-on-demand bank guarantee for mining lease ML1767P/M over the former Beaconsfield gold mine.
   
   
2. The rehabilitation of the former underground mine site is ongoing.  A number of rehabilitation obligations remain outstanding that the company is responsible for remediating and it has committed to undertake this work.
   
   
3. The area of land where the Heart shaft is located is not the responsibility of the lease owners.  This area was surrendered and excised from the mining lease following the purchase of the land by West Tamar Council.  As council is the owner responsible for maintaining the infrastructure in the area, where the Heart shaft subsided, it is not possible to utilise the security deposit for the purpose of preparing the shaft.