DARGUES Reef mine at Majors Creek has made me vocal in a local context, so I would like to contribute some thoughts about mining more generally.
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In the 21st century we seem to be in denial about the finite nature of resources on our planet.
We continue to extract, produce, consume and discard in the most profligate manner, creating massive problems with pollution in the process, which we can only ignore because we displace it either to people in poorer countries or to people in later generations.
In Australia, surely we are smart enough, and wealthy enough, to change this pattern.
I recently read an article on urban mining which suggested that the gold presently not recovered from electronic waste from Sydney was about three times the projected annual production from the proposed mine at Majors Creek.
We must put our intellect, energy and investment into the development of products which last, and are repairable, and processes which have a minimal negative effect on the environment.
Unless consumer demands change, the model will be business as usual, while our natural environments continue to be degraded, and social equity continues to be eroded.
Let’s start acting locally to drive the change.
Alison Walsh
Moruya