Submission to VEAC’s Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation from the Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria Inc.

I experienced a strong sense of déjà vu while reading the Discussion Paper.

It brought back unpleasant memories of years of wasted effort during the ECC’s Box Ironbark Investigation. The lack of balanced representation on the Reference Group – one farmer compared with at least five people with dark green credentials – indicates that our participation may be a repeat of the Box Ironbark ‘Investigation’ farce.

Even the reminder regarding submissions received on Friday 20^th August indicates the ‘green’ leaning of this investigation.  All of the key ‘common’ issues lean towards conservation.  We find it hard to believe that balanced use wasn’t a subject brought up at all workshops.  Does this indicate that our side of the debate is already being ignored?

However, we know that we can’t avoid some involvement otherwise we will be accused of not caring and will have no future recourse to complain about not being listened to.

To this end, we will only be putting minimal resources into this ‘investigation’.  We don’t have the tax-deductible status or financial resources of the VNPA whose ‘Better Protection of Special Places’ would consume more than a year’s income for the PMAV. The inequitable nature of the resources of those engaged in the land-use debate will always put us and other practical land-user groups at a disadvantage.

We do, however, have a greater number of members than the VNPA, so our political clout is relevant and we will put more effort in that direction than into the investigation.

We are privileged to have Dr. Allan Rossiter as our vice-president. Allan has done a brief critique of the VNPA’s document. It is attached to this submission for your information and, hopefully, your true consideration.

  Simply, we ask VEAC to consider the following points regarding smaller-scale mining and prospecting in Victoria:

·         After 160 years of mining activity, there is no evidence put forward – by the green movement or anyone else – that smaller-scale mining or prospecting have any deleterious impact on the environment. Quite the contrary, there is evidence to show that disturbance to soils aids diversity of vegetation and diversity of species.

·         Prospecting is important to the economic survival of many smaller towns in the goldfields of Central Victoria and East Gippsland.

·         Prospecting and mining can improve the viability of other regions that are suffering, yes suffering, from the impact of National Parks on their economy.

·         The sad fact is that it has become so difficult to actually mine, as distinct from explore, in Victoria that we totally missed out on the resources boom that kept Australia’s economy afloat during the Global Financial Crisis. The upside of this is that there are still valuable resources available to recover. Any imposition of further hurdles to mining must be avoided.

·         Victoria already has an extensive conservation reserve system and that there is little evidence that this system is doing anything to significantly improve our natural environment.

·         The new parks in the Box Ironbark region haven’t had time to ‘succeed’ in their aim of species recovery. The ink is barely dry on the legislation.

·         The ‘old’ parks in the High Country have failed in this primary aim, so why consider any extensions? Just how many creatures and rare plants were barbecued in wildfires over recent years?

·         VEAC has a responsibility to consider social and economic impacts, not just environmental. People who live near parks generally DO NOT WANT ANY MORE FLAMING PARKS.  People living in the concrete jungle of Melbourne may disagree, but they don’t have to suffer the consequences of undermanaged parks with the feral animals, weeds and ever-present REAL risk of wildfire. Remember Marysville! There is no point creating new parks when the existing ones are not being managed or funded properly.

·         Tourism is promoted by the greens and bureaucrats as being the answer to job losses in productive industries and is heavily subsidised by federal, state and local governments. What is rarely mentioned is that most jobs in tourism are casual, unskilled, poorly paid, seasonal, late nights or split shifts and without prospects. Removing skilled, well-paid jobs ‘to save the environment’ and replacing them with making beds, flipping burgers and basket weaving is going to push us closer to a third world economy.

·         Tourists have a finite amount of money to spend and the tourism dollar is already spread thinly. Therefore when tourism is touted as the economic base for yet another district it must take business away from existing tourist areas. No net gain. No overall benefit.

·         The promised increase in tourism jobs in the Box Ironbark region when the new parks were created hasn’t happened. People whose dignity was destroyed when their generational productive jobs in the timber, eucalyptus, mining and honey industries were demonised by the Box Ironbark Investigation were not re-employed in tourism. The jobs just aren’t there!

·         Prospecting, mining and a healthy environment can, and do, co-exist. They are not mutually exclusive.

·         Prospectors are often older people who receive considerable health and social benefits from this active outdoor hobby.

·         It is time an inquiry was conducted into whether or not the current reserve system is meeting the public’s environmental, social and economic expectations and whether the results of previous investigations have met their aim.

·         I would like written assurance that members of VEAC, and not just staff, will read my submissions. I am yet to be convinced that submissions aren’t censored by VEAC staff before they reach Council members.

I am considered an elder amongst land-users. If my skin were a different colour then VEAC would give everything I have to say the utmost consideration. I ask that no discrimination be imposed by race and that my 35 years’ experience in public land use be given the respect it deserves.

Submission prepared by

Rita Bentley

President, Prospectors and Miners  Association of Victoria. Inc.