Dorrigo 'wasn't consulted on mine'

Dorrigo residents claim antimony mining in the region will poison local aquifers, creeks and streams.

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DORRIGO residents are angry that the wider Coffs Coast community believes they have been consulted by Anchor Resources regarding the proposed antimony mine at Wild Cattle Creek when it isn't true.

The Dorrigo Environment Watch (DEW) has conducted its own survey of local residents to check if the claims of consultation made by Anchors Resources are true or not.

Results from the survey found that 52 per cent of landholders had received no communication from Anchor Resources while 26 per cent were contacted in 2009 with no further communication since.

A total of 17 per cent of landholders had communications in 2009 and 2010 and 13 per cent of landholders have been communicated with between 2009 to 2011.

These results contradict the claims that Anchor Resources general manager Ian Price made when being interviewed by Coffs Coast ABC Radio on October 6.

Discussing the proposed antimony mine with Katya Quigley, Mr Price said: "Anchor since it started exploration drilling, in about 2009 has consulted widely with the local residents particularly in the area affected by the project."

"We continue to do that as there are changes and we planned to do activities that's included letter drops and face to face meetings with people," he continued.

"We are continuing that consultation into the local community, distributing an updated brochure to people in the community and will continue to do that work."

Both the DEW and the MNC Greens are also angry with similar remarks Mr Price made on the same program on November 18.

A spokesman for the MNC Greens added that Anchor Resources have continually refused invitations to speak with community members at planned public meetings.

"Anchor Resources' refusal to attend or accept invitations to community public forums follows a pattern occurring in communities throughout NSW affected by mining, where mining companies use tactics that have been described in parliament as 'divide and conquer'," the spokesman said.