Gold and Copper Resources Pty Ltd (GCR) believes Newcrest is conducting “works for a mining purpose” on land over which it does not hold a mining lease.
A PRIVATELY owned mineral exploration company with exploration licences totalling more than 2,000 square kilometres in the Orange region has issued proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court (LEC) against Newcrest’s expansion of Cadia Valley.
Gold and Copper Resources Pty Ltd (GCR) believes Newcrest is conducting “works for a mining purpose” on land over which it does not hold a mining lease.
Newcrest Mining Limited obtained a project approval under Part 3A of the EPA Act on January 6, 2010, permitting it to undertake the Cadia East mine expansion project.
A spokesman for GCR said yesterday Newcrest held leases over part of the site for the new works, just not all of it.
“While Newcrest held mining leases over part of the site, prior to undertaking certain approved works, the project approval contemplated Newcrest applying for, and obtaining, additional mining leases,” the spokesman said.
“Newcrest has not obtained those additional mining leases.”
Following a query about the relevant requisite mining leases from GCR on September 21, 2012, Newcrest lodged two Mining Lease Applications (MLA 439 and 440) for parts of the area contemplated in the project approval.
The application also included where works for mining purposes have been carried out.
GCR say they’re looking to stop the mine from operating in areas where it does not have the requisite mining or environmental authorisations in place, under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) and the Mining Act.
“We are seeking orders in the LEC under the civil enforcement provisions under the relevant environment and planning legislation to restrain Newcrest from carrying out mining activities in breach of the project approval,” the spokesman said.
“We are also seeking declarations that Newcrest is in breach of the relevant planning, environment and mining legislation as a result of its failure to obtain the requisite mining or environmental authorisations.”
The NSW Government is not involved in the proceedings.
The matter will go before the Land and Environment Court on Friday for a directions hearing.