Controversy erupts over a potential halt to a significant mining project in Lake Torrens.
Australia’s Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek faces mounting pressure over a new Indigenous heritage protection issue that could disrupt major resource projects. A recent report has recommended that she issue a protection order for areas of South Australia’s Lake Torrens, potentially halting a mining project that could rival BHP’s Olympic Dam, one of the world’s largest mining operations.
The recommendation marks the latest use of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, a law invoked earlier by Ms. Plibersek to stop Regis Resources’ $1 billion McPhillamys Gold Project in New South Wales, which led to significant backlash from the mining sector.
Lake Torrens Mining Halt Recommended
In 2021, two members of the Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation submitted a Section 10 application for Lake Torrens, urging the Environment Minister to preserve the region’s significant cultural heritage. The recent report advised Ms. Plibersek to make a declaration under Section 10 of the Heritage Act, effectively stopping all future mining in specific areas of Lake Torrens.
This recommendation comes just nine months after Orpheus Uranium, a small mining company, won a court battle that allowed its drilling activities to proceed in the Lake Torrens area. Orpheus, through its subsidiary Kelaray, has been exploring the region for copper, uranium, and gold.
In a March 2023 letter to the South Australian (SA) government, the company was informed of the recommendation, which, if approved, could freeze operations permanently. Orpheus Uranium has already invested between $15 million and $20 million in the project and warned of the wider implications a heritage declaration could have on other exploration and non-mining activities in South Australia.
Potential for Significant Resource Discovery
Orpheus Uranium, formerly Argonaut Resources, holds SA government approval to explore the shores of Lake Torrens, targeting high copper deposits and other valuable minerals. The company claims its Murdie project could yield significant resources, potentially rivalling the Olympic Dam, which holds the largest uranium deposit in the world.
However, a heritage declaration under Section 10 would bar further exploration, risking not only this project but also setting a precedent for other mining operations across South Australia. Orpheus chairman Mick Billing has voiced concerns about the wide-reaching impacts such a move could have on investment and industry confidence.
Indigenous Heritage vs. Economic Development
The tension between respecting Indigenous heritage and advancing resource development has intensified. The Section 10 recommendation was based on Lake Torrens’ cultural significance to several Aboriginal groups, including the Kokatha, Adnyamathanha, Barngarla, and Kuyani peoples. Lake Torrens is believed to hold Dreaming tracks or songlines, which are vital to Aboriginal tradition, imbuing the land with intangible cultural value linked to ancient mythologies.
A legal battle in 2022 saw the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation successfully halt the project in South Australia’s Supreme Court, citing the lake’s cultural significance. However, Orpheus later overturned the ruling on appeal. While Barngarla did not participate in the current Section 10 application, the broader cultural significance of the area remains a focal point of the dispute.
Minister Yet to Decide
While Ms. Plibersek has not made a final decision, her office confirmed that the Section 10 report is just one factor influencing the outcome. The Environment Department is still evaluating the matter for procedural fairness, but the delays have frustrated industry stakeholders. Association of Mining and Exploration Companies CEO Warren Pearce said the drawn-out process risks derailing investment and denying traditional owners potential financial benefits from the project.
Orpheus Uranium, having met all state approval requirements and undergone extensive legal review, remains hopeful for a “sensible” decision. But, with up to ten similar heritage applications awaiting Ms. Plibersek’s judgement, the future of resource exploration in culturally sensitive regions like Lake Torrens remains uncertain.
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