By Faith Macale
Gordon residents are campaigning against an application for a mining exploration licence that will cover the town.
Steadfast Mining Services has lodged an application for an exploration licence with Resources Victoria.
If approved, the licence will cover land 5.1 kilometres west of Ballan, 4.9km south of Spargo Creek, 1.6km north of Bungal, 2.6km east of Millbrook and the town of Gordo for five years.
Gordon residents said mineral and mining exploration would threaten the peaceful open spaces and natural surroundings of the town.
Residents Demi Cooper and Mark Perriman have started a petition against the exploratory license.
Ms Cooper said Gordon is home to about 1393 residents. She said the community just wants Steadfast to “mind their own business”.
“We just see them as very disingenuous in their practices and how they engage with the community,” she said.
“There’s a lot of questions that are being left unanswered, and the person who we wish would answer is not stepping up.
“It might be one licence to the state, but it’s a lifestyle, community, and a township to a thousand of people on the line.”
Ms Cooper said residents have asked Steadfast managing director Terry Delahunty to speak to the community at the town hall – a request she said he refused.
“If a community is pushing back on somebody with interest in mining in their town as something which the community doesn’t want, I say it’s worthwhile listening to the community,” Ms Cooper said.
Mr Delahunty said Steadfast has complied with the appropriate community consultation requirement of the application, which was to advertise it in local and statewide papers.
“This is a simple application over ground that we have already held, in the recent past, with absolutely no disturbance to anyone,” he said.
“The advertisements also directed interested people to links to further government published information that clearly explains the rights and obligations.”
Mr Delahunty said he will advise the community of any pending field work.
“Until such time that if and when we discover anything worth further investigation, and have a plan on how to proceed, then we will happily detail those plans to all stakeholders, foremost being, the community,” he said.
