Shell Grit Mining

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:57): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Mineral Resources and Development a question about the shell grit mine at Port Parham.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Local residents have expressed some concern about the practices and damage being done by the Clay & Mineral Sales company in mining shell grit. I note that there has been considerable community revegetation efforts along the coast. The South Australian mineral resources department says that the company has been asked to review and update its mining and rehabilitation plan for Port Parham. My questions to the minister are:

1. Since this company has been operating there, how many times has its plan been reviewed?

2. What investigations has the government undertaken into the operation, including environmental monitoring?

3. Has the company, in fact, amended its plan as was stated in the media last month and, as a result, what changes have been made to its practices?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:58): This matter was first raised with me by a councillor on the District Council of Mallala back in September. My advice is that Clay & Mineral Sales, which has been operating the mining lease, has actually been operating this mine for a number of years. It has been extracting relatively small parcels of material in recent years on a campaign basis, that is, as the need requires. However, the current campaign appears to be to remove a slightly greater quantity of shell grit. Although this company has had an extractive mineral lease over the area for some time, it is not, I believe, the land owner. PIRSA met with senior representatives of this company on 14 October to discuss community and council concerns and the recent incidents. I am advised that Clay & Mineral Sales has indicated its intention to retain the mining leases; however, it has also expressed a willingness to cooperate and resolve the council and landowner issues associated with its operation at Port Parham.

I am advised that the company was going to arrange a meeting with the District Council of Mallala—that should have taken place—to discuss its mining and rehabilitation plan and to address the council issues, and a PIRSA representative was to be in attendance at that meeting. Further, I am advised that Clay & Mineral Sales will also consult with the relevant landowners and neighbours in an effort to address their issues with the operation. PIRSA will take the concerns of the council and landholders into account during the assessment of Clay & Mineral Sales' amended mining and rehabilitation plan. The deputy leader asked me when the original mining plan was reviewed. I will have to go back and get that information from the records for the honourable member.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:24): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

18 November 2009

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Yesterday I provided a preliminary response to the Hon. Michelle Lensink who asked questions about shell grit mining by the Clay & Mineral Sales company at Port Parham. I am advised that since the extractive mineral lease for small scale shell grit extraction was granted in 1968 there have been two reviews of the mining and rehabilitation program.

The first review was undertaken in 1980. In 2008 the Chief Inspector of Mines requested that the operator, Clay & Mineral Sales, undertake a further review of the mining and rehabilitation program. The company has submitted a draft of the revised mining and rehabilitation program. The Chief Inspector of Mines has further requested that Clay & Mineral Sales consult with all relevant stakeholders, including the District Council of Mallala and nearby landholders, to ensure that all environmental impacts of the operation are satisfactorily addressed in the revised mining and rehabilitation program.