Minister moves to reopen Ellendale diamond mine and avoid environmental costs

Written on the 30 January 2017

Yellow diamonds could be mined in the Kimberley again and taxpayers could avoid up to $40 million of future environmental liabilities if Mines Minister Sean L'Estrange can attract a new operator.

The plan requires some legal manoeuvring by the Minister after the Ellendale mine's liquidators, Jirsch Sutherland, were able to transfer the mining lease and environmental liabilities reportedly as much as $40 million back to the State Government in October 2015.

The relinquishment of the lease made the West Kimberley site available to applications for exploration permits under the Mining Act that would not have carried the future environmental liabilities.

Read More...

Source: ABC Kimberley