The sandy banks of the creek at Rebecca Lucock’s northern New South Wales property sparkle with elements that are increasingly sought-after by critical minerals prospectors.<\/p>\n
The Lucock family bought 188 hectares of land at Cangai, north-west of Grafton, in 2022 with big plans to take advantage of pre-existing approvals for an eco-tourism operation.<\/p>\n
But an increase in exploration activity on the John Bull Gold Project to their south, and another four exploration licences within line-of-sight to their south, north and east has led them to rethink their plans.<\/p>\n
The John Bull project is one of 44 approved exploration licences in the Clarence catchment with prospectors seeking minerals including gold, copper, antimony and cobalt.<\/p>\n
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There are currently 44 exploration licences across the Clarence catchment. (Source: MinView)<\/p>\n
“It’s overwhelming; it does make you feel a little trapped,” Ms Lucock said.<\/p>\n
“We’ve invested a lot into this property and now we are at a stopping point.”<\/p>\n
Platypuses are thriving in the creek at the Lucock’s property in Cangai. (ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)<\/p>\n
The increase in interest in mining opportunities in the region has landholders across the Clarence River catchment concerned.<\/p>\n
Hundreds gathered recently at a series of forums in Grafton and the small towns of Drake, Dorrigo and Copmanhurst organised by community group Clarence Catchment Alliance.<\/p>\n
Members of the group visited the NSW parliament in August to argue its case for the entire catchment to be excluded from the NSW Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy.<\/p>\n
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The Cangai bridge gets motorist up close to the Mann River in the Clarence catchment. (ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)<\/p>\n
Group seeks mining ban<\/p>\n
Alliance founder Shae Fleming said mining posed an unacceptable risk to the region.<\/p>\n
“We do feel that looking at some of the legislation and other policies \u2026 that lists us as a major flood zone, we just think it’s obvious that mining in drinking water catchments and flood zones is a no-go,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We realise we need mining, but we are against it in areas of high ecological and cultural significance.”<\/p>\n
Shae Fleming from the Clarence Catchment Alliance says the region should be exempt from mining activity. (ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)<\/p>\n
In 2001, small amounts of cyanide entered the catchment from retention ponds left behind by the defunct Timbarra gold mining project.<\/p>\n
Traces of the rare metal antimony were found in the catchment’s main drinking water dam in March, prompting the Clarence Valley Council to seek a briefing from the Environment Protection Authority.<\/p>\n
“Whatever happens upriver ends up downstream,” Ms Fleming said.<\/p>\n
“We can survive floods, but floods contaminated with heavy metals and cyanide \u2014 I don’t think there’s any coming back from that.”<\/p>\n
The push for a ban on exploration and mining in the catchment is supported by seven councils in the north of the state and by Clarence MP Richie Williamson, who has facilitated the delegation.<\/p>\n
“I think it is of concern to the wider community that exploration is going on in environmentally sensitive areas,” Mr Williamson said.<\/p>\n
“It’s the drinking water catchment for 100,000 people and we can’t be putting that at risk.”Risk versus reward<\/p>\n
Mining company Novo Resources, which has an option to acquire a majority interest in the John Bull tenement, has declined to provide a comment to the ABC.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But exploration companies with leases in the catchment say the odds are stacked against them.<\/p>\n
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A handful of creek gravel at Cangai reveals specks of pyrite and other minerals. (ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)<\/p>\n
An annual survey released last week by the Fraser Institute found Australia had dropped out of the top 10 regions for mining investment attractiveness.<\/p>\n
Corazon Minerals is the majority owner of an exploration licence at Mount Gilmore, north-west of Grafton, with an eye on extracting copper and cobalt.<\/p>\n
Non-executive CEO Kristie Young said the company spent around $200,000 drilling two holes 12 months ago, but she was unsure whether this would lead to a mine opening.<\/p>\n
“When you are evaluating a project, you look at all the different elements \u2014 where is it located, what are the government regulations, what is it like environmentally, community. That’s all extremely important,” she said.<\/p>\n
“It’s not just about where the jewels are.”<\/p>\n
Geologist Tom Wall examining a drilling sample Legacy Minerals inherited when it took over an exploration lease at Drake. (ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)<\/p>\n
Legacy Minerals recently took over an exploration licence near Drake that several previous operators were unable to commercialise.<\/p>\n
The lease requires a review of environmental factors to be submitted, but a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement is not required until the mining stage.<\/p>\n
Managing director Chris Byrne said his company hoped new mining techniques and a willingness to liaise with the local community and traditional owners for social licence would help get the project to mining stage.<\/p>\n