Edi said:
The community here in the upper ovens is outraged over fears of extensive dredging and open cut mining. It is mostly hysteria promoted by some recent immigrant elderly yuppies from the covid rid city to the south. Sadly they don't care that there are bugger all industries here except hospitality and tourism that don't pay enough for the young people to be able to stay here. Especially when real estate prices have exploded due to the influx of the above mentioned immigrants. The reality is that sort of mining would never be allowed and we are far more likely to get small underground operations that will have minimal impact and most people would hardly notice they exist. It's just so selfish to deny the young blokes here the prospect of decent work
Mate....if you think that real estate prices have exploded because of a few wrinklies from Melbourne, just wait and see what happens to them when a few overpaid miners arrive in town.
See, for example, Karratha:
Karratha property prices booming again amid fears locals already being priced out of the area
Mr Carter (second from right) says the city is losing local contributors who can't afford the rent.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09...ns-but-fears-locals-being-priced-out/12619216
And if you think that the development of a gold mine (or two) will provide employment for some local young folk, have a chat to anyone from the coal country in Qld, or iron ore country in WA, or just about any mining town for that matter........ask them what they think about FIFO.
And have you heard about automation?
Ask the people who used to drive the mining trucks and trains over in the west about it.
Now I know we're talking a difference of scale here, but don't for one minute think that a local mining operation is going to be good for locals.
And.....don't you think it's about time that this country started learning to do other things for a living besides digging holes in the ground?
Edit: Jethro's comment above will give you some idea of how much employment the locals are likely to get out of any new mines........potentially quite a bit of pain, for very little gain.