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Wiradjuri Elder Rebuts Mayor on Lake Cowal

13 August 2004 - Media Release - Wiradjuri Elder, Neville ‘Chappy’ Williams, has rejected calls from the Mayor of West Wyalong for him to work with the mining company which is destroying thousands of years of cultural heritage at Lake Cowal.

“I find Mr Bolte’s comments very offensive,” Mr Williams said.

“First, why would I want to work with Barrick Gold? The Cowal Gold Mine is destroying our ancient sacred site at Lake Cowal. Some of the artefacts there have to be at least as old as the Pyramids of Egypt.

“Second, Mr Bolte is wrong when he says most of the Wiradjuri are working with the company. Only a minority signed the agreement with Barrick and only a minority of Wiradjuri people are working for them. A lot of Wiradjuri people who have worked for the company do not want to return to Lake Cowal because they now know it is against Wiradjuri law to disturb our heritage there.

“Third, Mr Bolte says my concerns about the damage the mine will do to the environment are unfounded. But there is a lot of evidence about the dangers of gold mines. Cyanide is a highly toxic chemical. There are frequent leaks and spills from gold mines around the world. There are no guarantees that cyanide won’t leak into the groundwater around Lake Cowal and eventually make its way to the Lachlan River.

“In the early 1990s a train carrying cyanide pellets derailed at Condobolin, putting the town on high alert. Luckily it didn’t rain. If it had rained the pellets would have turned intto a lethal gas, putting people and animals in the area at risk of death and injury. About 6000 tonnes of cyanide will be transported to Lake Cowal for up to 13 years from Queensland. We still do not know what is being done to assure everyone on the route that there won’t be any cyanide-related accidents.

“There are also concerns about the effects water to be used for the mine will have on the high risk groundwater reserves in the area. The mine will use up to 17 megalitres a day. That’s 17 Olympic swimming pools of water.

What will happen if so much water is drawn down that salty aquifers collapse into the Bland Paleochannel? This is the underground river that has been highly significant to the Wiradjuri for thousands of years for spiritual reasons.

How much water will be needed to suppress the estimated 5445 tonnes of dust that will be generated by the mine every year? Then there are the tailings dams. They won’t be lined, making it easier for toxic chemicals to leach into the soil and groundwater. Even if they were lined, cracks and tears can still happen to the linings letting out toxic water.

“What will happen when the next major flood hits the area? Most people don’t seem to realise that the mine’s huge open pit will be partly in the lake bed. How can anyone be certain that in the event of a big flood, the wall to be built around the mine won’t be breached letting contaminated water into the lake area, potentially poisoning the Lachlan?

“The mine will also use 200 Gwh of electricity and 146 000 litres of diesel every year, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions in the area. Leaching from huge mountains of waste rock from the mine containing arsenic and other chemical compounds could also endanger the environment.

“The mayor might be rubbing his hands over the rates windfall the mine has brought to the Bland Shire Council, but Barrick isn’t listed on the Australian stock exchange. Most of the company’s profits will go to Barrick’s overseas company executives and shareholders,” Mr Williams said.

related links :

• Lake Cowal Protest Camp

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