EXPLORATION: The open-cut mine at Moura, where Molopo's Authority to Prospect has been renewed. Picture: Robyne Cuerel Source: The Courier-Mail
THE State Government has admitted that its mining buffer zone has holes in it.
The loophole will allow a company to continue exploring on the edge of an urban area where activity is supposed to be banned.
In August, the Government imposed a 2km restricted area around towns of 1000 people or more until legislation was passed making the buffer zones permanent.
The move was trumped as a way of reducing the anguish for people near mining operations and resolving the conflict between urban areas and the massive expansion of the mining and gas industries.
Companies were ordered to either relinquish any permits or parts of their exploration area within 2km of an urban area or wait for the Government to legislate them away at the end of the year.
Courier Mail
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