[Oz-envirolink] "Cover Up! Cover Up at Lake Cowal!" Decries NGO

[Ruth Rosenhek]

RAINFOREST INFORMATION CENTRE
ABN No. 64 589 855 262
PO Box 368 Lismore 2480 NSW
rainforestinfo at ozemail.com.au

MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: Ruth Rosenhek (02) 66897519

"Cover Up! Cover Up at Lake Cowal!" Decries NGO
Pit Slippages Go Unreported to the Delight of Barrick Gold and NSW 
Government Official

Documents released from a request to the Department of Freedom of 
Information have revealed previously undisclosed information about 
slippages to the mine wall at the Cowal Gold project.

In questions to Parliament (Questions on Notice No 1559), information 
was sought regarding slippage at the Cowal Gold Project. But answers 
to these questions made no mention of slippages that occurred prior 
to the publicly known December 2007 slip.

An FOI submitted by The Rainforest Information Centre (Lismore) 
revealed that previous slippages have also occurred and yet no 
information regarding these incidences has been made public to this 
date.

"It took 4 months to receive the information," said Ruth Rosenhek, 
RIC Director "and still a number of documents have been upheld for 
the stated reason that their release could have an 'adverse effect on 
the company's business affairs'.

" The only reason we found out about the December slip was that 
Friends of the Earth flew Lake Cowal Traditional Owner, Neville 
'Chappy' Williams over the mine site and could see the collapse. As 
stakeholders in the Lake Cowal gold mine, we would have no other way 
of knowing about this slippage or the one that occurred previously."

Furthermore the Department of Primary Industries seems intent on 
keeping this information on the hush.

In an email dated December 22, 2007, Senior Inspector of Mines, John 
Moss (Department of Primary Industries) wrote to Andrew Bywater 
(Cowal Gold Project)

"I have informed the Minister's office of the event as a 
precautionary measure. Perhaps the rain and Christmas will help deter 
any adverse publicity or third party interest.

I assume it is also raining heavily where you are. Good luck!"

"Pit slippages such as the one that occurred in December 2007 can 
easily cause a fatality," said Rosenhek. "In fact, the slippage 
occurred where persons were located 1-2 hours previously.

"We have always had concerns about the environmental impacts and 
management of the Cowal Gold Project. Barrick Gold must be held 
accountable for their actions and yet they work in cahoots with the 
Department of Primary Industries to ensure that nobody knows too much 
about what happens on the site."

The Rainforest Information Centre has requested a full investigation 
by the Ombudsman into this matter.

5.November.2008
-- 
Director
Rainforest Information Centre
Box 368, Lismore 2480 NSW
(02) 66897519

http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/ 

rainforestinfo at ozemail.com.au
skype: ruthr23

Watch Earth Spirit Action, a deep ecology journey, at 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6jCpChUxOw
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