COMEDY A-lister Akmal Saleh will join Canberra comedians and a Deua River performer in two gigs to raise awareness about potential environmental problems at the Unity Mine at Majors Creek.
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Deua River resident and comedian Hamish Hudson will host Doin’ it for the Deua gigs at Moruya Golf Club on March 27 and the Araluen Hotel on March 28.
Mr Hudson organised the concerts after he found out that Unity Mining had applied to change its development consent in order to process gold with cyanide on site at Majors Creek.
He says he has concerns about the stability of the tailings dam, which will store waste products from the mining process and traces of cyanide.
Mr Hudson said he was also very concerned about the history of environmental breaches at the site.
“If the proposal were not so scary, it would be funny,” Mr Hudson said.
“I’m trying to do my bit and let all the locals know that they have to stand up and take notice.
“If it gets through, the risk will be way too high.
“I would hate the community not to know, so we’ve got a team together to put on gigs that will spread the word.
“People can be informed about the risks we’re being asked to accept and make up their own minds.”
Mr Hudson said he hoped the shows would have a wide appeal.
“It’s not going to be an out-and-out mine bash, it’s going to be a great night of comedy,” he said.
“I wanted to engage people and have a great night.”
Mr Hudson, who lives beside the river, said he was not a member of The Greens, nor was he anti-mining or anti-development.
He is, however, “anti-somebody putting cyanide right next to a river”.
“It’s an incredibly beautiful part of the world and we feel very lucky to be custodians of our patch – hopefully for the rest of our lives,” he said.
“I would hate to see this mine get approval to process (with cyanide) on site, not just for my family, but for the coastal areas of Moruya and Batemans Bay that gain much of their water supply from the Deua.
“We are all people who are going to suffer.
“Unity Mining has already leaked contaminants into Majors Creek and been fined by the EPA as a result.
“I don’t think they should be allowed to handle cyanide next to that same waterway.”
Tickets are $25 online or at the door until sold out.
To book, visit www.trybooking.com, click on ‘buy tickets’ and search for ‘Deua’.