By Jeremy Cook
Granite Belt landholders have been “strongly encouraged” to attend an information session next Tuesday to learn about the implications of mining permits and what rights impacted property owners have.
A Queensland government representative from the Department of Resources will lead the free 90 minute meeting at Stanthorpe Civic Centre on 4 June to explain how mining exploration permits work.
The meeting is understood to have been arranged by Southern Downs Regional Council and the department in response to community concerns.
In a statement, council chief executive Dave Burges said the session, which will start at 12.30pm, would be particularly relevant for the agricultural industry to understand how the permits might impact their land use.
“Agriculture is the region’s biggest industry and council is committed to supporting its continued growth,” Mr Burges said.
“Members of the local agricultural industry including growers, wine growers and horticulturalists are strongly encouraged to attend to understand the impacts of applications and grants over a property and their future livelihoods,” he said.
“Council is pleased to welcome industry expert Alice Prince, Manager Engagement from the Department of Resources to explain how permits and grants work.”
The state government can issue exploration permits to resource companies for activities such as prospecting and surveying, drilling, environmental studies, geophysical surveys, sampling and testing of soil as well as water and rock sampling.
The permits exist to locate what minerals and gases exist in a particular area of land, and to determine the economic viability of extracting and commercialising whatever resources are found.
A total of 19 permits have been issued for mining exploration activities across the Granite Belt since 2010 while a further 18 are under consideration by the government.
Landholder Yvonne Rose said she will be in attendance at the meeting after spending two years fighting a mining company over access to her 400 acre property near Passchendaele State Forest. Ms Rose had received a letter in the mail advising her of a five year mining permit which had been issued for exploration of critical minerals on her property.
“I’m going to listen and to hear from the Queensland government representatives going to that meeting on why they issued those licenses,” she said.
Ms Rose said her main question for the government was “why is consultation happening now?”
“Three quarters of the Granite Belt has already been put under a mining license.
“I’m interested to know how they answer that question.”
Under Queensland’s land access laws, mining companies must give an entry notice before entering a landholder’s property. For more advanced mining activities, landholders are entitled to negotiate compensation with the permit holder.
It is understood, however, landholders cannot prevent the company from accessing their land.
