Australia's Argonaut says to start drilling despite Aboriginal appeal

Argonaut Gold

17/03/2021 08:29

MELBOURNE, March 17 (Reuters) - Miner Argonaut Resources
 ARE.AX  said on Wednesday it would go ahead with final
preparations for drilling at its Murdie project in South
Australia, despite a legal challenge by an Aboriginal group
which says it would damage a sacred area. 
    The miner, whose subsidiary Kelaray received state
government approval to drill on the shores of Lake Torrens in
January, is set to start exploration this week.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2LA056
    "Argonaut notes that exploration works being undertaken at
the Murdie project have been duly authorised. The Company is
confident that the State’s authorisation process was robust," it
said in a statement to the stock exchange.
    "Argonaut is continuing with final preparations for drilling
at the Murdie site."
    Australian state and federal laws around Aboriginal heritage
protection are under national review after Rio Tinto Ltd
 RIO.AX  legally blew up ancient rock shelters for an iron ore
mine, exposing a legal framework skewed to support development.
    Australian Aboriginal culture is regarded as the oldest
living civilisation and the rock shelters showed among the
earliest evidence of human habitation.
    The Barngarla Aboriginal Corporation (BDAC) said in a
statement on Wednesday that it had lodged a legal challenge in 
South Australia's Supreme Court against the decision.
    "(Lake Torrens) is a very significant site to the Barngala
people," chairperson Jason Bilney told Reuters.
    "Drilling into mother earth is like putting a knife into
her... Now we have launched proceedings in the Federal court." 
    Below Lake Torrens are fresh water aquifers that Aboriginal
groups fear could be damaged by mining, jeopardising water
supplies in the arid region, while the lake itself is part of
their spiritual beliefs.
    The South Australian government has said that it granted the
drilling partly because of previous activity around the lake and
that a separate permit would be needed for mining activity.
    The court has scheduled a directions hearing for April 23,
2021. 

 (Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Kim Coghill)
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