A MINERAL sands mine under development near Balranald could place an iconic bird species at risk of extinction by removing 3000 hectares of its habitat.
The proposed $680 million Iluka Resources mine encompasses 10,000ha north-west of Balranald, but the National Malleefowl Recovery Group (NMRG) says the area is home to some of the highest density of Malleefowl in New South Wales.
The NMRG has criticised a proposal to relocate the birds, which are listed as a threatened species by the Federal Government and endangered in NSW.
Studies undertaken by Iluka as part of their draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) found the mine’s construction “is likely (to place) the local population (of Malleefowl) … at risk of extinction”.
Infrastructure, including access roads to both the West Balranald mine and the Nepean mine, had the “potential to result in an increase in bird/vehicle interactions and death or significant injury to individual birds”.
The draft EIS was submitted to the Federal Government in February, prompting four responses from community members and groups, including the NMRG.
For more on this story, pick up a copy of today’s Guardian (Friday, April 22).
