In response to Stephen Galilee's letter on the proposed cyanide based gold processing plant at Dargues Reef Gold Project.
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Let's start by being very clear about why Unity Mining is here - to make as much money as possible. They are not Santa Clause and did not come here out of the goodness of their hearts in a charitable way to make the community prosper, though that's how they like to paint it.
Whilst some people may be of the opinion of knock on benefits such as employment and training for locals, last week's letter clarified that is not going to happen. Stephen Galilee just told us they received some 3000 applications from around Australia from already trained and likely unemployed mining and construction workers. For a company that is required to make money, why on earth would they go to the considerable expense and delay of training locals? Beyond a placating token, it's not going to happen. This would be bad for business.
The 3000 applications also reveals the flaws in such arguments as "an economic lifeline that will sustain a community for decades". If this is so likely why are there 3000 applications from across Australia for a handful of jobs here? What happened to all those other prospering communities those miners came from? Closer to home how many people will be employed at the completed processing plant? 25? In a community this size what sort of financial impact will 25 more people have? It is likely they have mortgages and family elsewhere where the money is going to be sent. It really takes some bad math to come up with notions that this project will allow this community to prosper for decades.
Many people have focused on the direct dangers of cyanide processing on the site but may be unaware of far more harmful dangers such a treatment plant possess. Unity Mining are here to make money. It is their corporate responsibility to do so. Laterally thinking from a corporate perspective if another operator approached the operation with ore for processing it would be the responsibility of the Unity Mining to process it for a fee and make a profit. Here is the real danger. Any processing plant in the area will suddenly make local low grade ore bodies viable opening a Pandora's Box. The local community will no longer be confronting "a" mining company, it will be dealing with many, practicing a variety of techniques creeping to open cut. If people want the area as a truck thoroughfare whilst it's turned into a moonscape, any type of processing plant is a great tool to achieve it. If Stephen Galilee claims that would never happen, I guess his claim would be as good as his definitive promise to never ever use cyanide at Dargues Reef in the first place.
New technologies which do not use cyanide really do not resolve the danger of having the whole place torn up. This is their next move in their corporate strategy. Do not feel relief if they find an alternative to cyanide. A massive danger remains.
No doubt they offered share parcels, if you accepted, this was a trap. You probably took them because you thought you would get nothing otherwise. But holding onto them, you have surrendered your voice. Perhaps you ought to sell them and be free again. You will never get back what they want to take.
The benefits of any processing plant at Dargues Reef are highly doubtful and the risks are far greater than most people realise.
Jakub Mazurkiewicz
Charleys Forest
P.S The cyanide is only part of the problem, the real danger is the processing plant (that's their next card).
P.P.S. Lock the gate.