Letter To Kylie White Re Commencement of Work at Splitters Creek Evaporation Facility

From: Colin Leask [mailto:********]
Sent: Sunday, 19 October 2014 6:53 PM
To: 'kylie.white@********'
Cc: 'requests@bendigo.vic.gov.au'; 'b.lyons; e.chapman; r.fyffe; 'l.ruffell; j.williams; 'p.cox'; 'm.weragoda'; 'Helen Leach'; 'r.campbell'
 

Subject: Splitters Creek Evaporation Facility

Dear Ms White,

Mandalay Resource have commenced earth moving work on the Splitters Creek site at Costerfield.

As you would be aware, the VCAT decision of 19^th of June placed a large range of pre-conditions on Mandalay Resources  before the use or development starts. These preconditions flow directly into the planning permit and as I understand it from previous advice from your staff, the MRSDA  Work Authority is issued subsequent to these conditions being  fulfilled.

For your convenience, I have attached a marked up copy of the VCAT conditions.

At 5.27 pm on Friday the 17^th of October, your NW Operations Manager advised me that:

 “Mandalay Resources have lodged a bond with the Department but at this time the matter is still being considered and the bond has not been formally accepted or registered. Mandalay are aware of the need to complete the requirements of the MRSDA (as I mentioned in my email of last Friday) before commencing construction of the evaporation facility”.

So now we have a  situation where VCAT has set a large range of conditions “before the use or development starts” and Mandalay have just thumbed their collective Canadian noses at this process.

Your Department must have performed at least a desktop audit to make sure that the preconditions to the planning permit conditions have been complied with prior to consideration of the finalised MRSDA work plan. Can you please, as a matter of urgency send me a copy of your desktop audit so that I can circulate this critical document to the Costerfield community.

I have  copied the CEO of the COGB & Councillors into this email to make sure that Bendigo is aware of the current issues.

Yet again Ms White the actions of Mandalay Resources indicate that your department is not capable of regulating this mine in the best interests of the Costerfield / Heathcote community and the Costerfield environment.

Your prompt response would be appreciated.

Colin Leask & Pamela King