China Shandong Jinshunda Group caught out over fudged claims of widespread community consultation

Editor David Bancroft writing in The Daily Examiner, 9 December 2011:

Miner's claim disputed

A MINING company's claim to have consulted widely about antimony mining in the Wild Cattle Creek area has been disputed by one of the area's environmental groups.

Dorrigo Environment Watch member Matt Forde said claims from Anchor Resources general manager Ian Price about community consultation did not match their own research.

Mr Price told ABC Radio on October 6 the company had consulted widely with residents, particularly in the area affected by the project.

"We are continuing that consultation into the local community," Mr Price said.

But Mr Forde said his group had members residing in the area who had received no communication, so decided to phone around to see how many had.

"Results from the survey found that 52% of landholders had received no communication from Anchor Resources, while 26% were contacted in 2009, with no further communication," he said

"Seventeen per cent of landholders had communications in 2009 and 2010 and 13% of landholders have been communicated with between 2009 to 2011.

"One of these landholders received over 96 emails from Anchor Resources in a two-year period, mostly in relation to access agreements."

Mr Price, who was in Dorrigo yesterday, said he was relatively new to the company but company records showed there had been consultation in 2009.

He said there was no timetable for drilling in the area and land access had not been negotiated.

There had been ongoing discussion with affected landowners, he said.

Once land access was negotiated, the company would undertake another round of consultation, which would be detailed.