Mastodawn

#Australia - Concerns over #GreatArtesianBasin water impacts in new #BHP agreement

By Kathryn Bermingham, Thomas Kelsall
Sun 14 Jun

Excerpt: "#Environmentalists and #FirstNations groups say a new agreement between the #SouthAustralian government and BHP, set to be passed by state parliament this week, does not do enough to end water extraction from the Great Artesian Basin.

"They also say their concerns have not been taken seriously and that they have been shut out of the consultation process.

"The government announced last month it would introduce a bill to 'modernise' the #OlympicDam indenture — a legislated contract with BHP that governs mining operations.

"The updated indenture broadens BHP's #mining lease and removes caps on #copper production, paving the way for a potential major expansion.

"It also addresses water access, stipulating that BHP must stop drawing water from its Great Artesian Basin Wellfield A by 2036.

"But it allows continued access to BHP's other #wellfield, despite the concerns of #TraditionalOwners and environmentalists that extraction is damaging the local mound springs."

#AusPol #WaterIsLife #IndigenousAustralians #ExtractiveActivities #CopperMining

Concerns new BHP agreement 'locks in' basin water extraction

Environmentalists and First Nations groups say a new mining agreement with BHP does not do enough to end water extraction from the Great Artesian Basin. But the SA government says the agreement imposes stricter environmental regulation.