After an almost 20-year battle with mining interests, Adelaide Hills residents say the decision by the state government to "proclaim" the Bird in Hand gold deposit area is "very much a relief".
Inverbrackie Creek Catchment Group chair Jim Franklin-McEvoy said when the decision by Mining Minister Tom Koutsantonis to reject the Terramin application for the gold mine was made in February, the initial reaction was relief, but there was also concern about an appeal.
"This certainly seems to close the door a lot more," he said.
SA Governor Frances Adamson has proclaimed the area, at the request of the SA government, protecting it from future mining applications.
Mr Koutsantonis said 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," he said.
"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."
The proclaimation is a mechanism that has been successfully used previously 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.
Mr Koutsantonis said the area of the mine needed to be protected with tourism "a vital contributor to this region's local economy", which could be threatened by the mining.
"This mechanism will ensure full control by government over the ability for anyone to make future applications for mineral tenements over this small area," he said.
"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."
Mr Franklin-McEvoy said they had been calling for this since 2004, while local member Dan Cregan had been lobbying as well.
"There is always the risk that someone else would come along and try and take on the tenement," he said.
"This does give us hope in that direction."
But Mr Franklin-McEvoy said there was still some cause for concern.
The proclaimation only applies to the area specifically targeted in the Bird in hand mineral deposit and no broader.
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Mr Franklin-McEvoy said there were 20 historical mining sites through the Adelaide Hills that could be at risk - although the Bird in Hand had been the most appealing.
He would like to see the proclamation include the greater Mount Lofty Ranges as well as a bigger conversation about protecting farm land where its value was greater than that of mining.
He said they would continue to work with other regions to help them in their fight to preserve agricultural land against short-term mining interest.
Elizabeth Anderson
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
