Adios to 'cowboy' miner: SA Government congratulated on stopping mining in Arkaroola

The Wilderness Society (SA) Inc
Media Release
12 February 2008

The Wilderness Society is today celebrating a significant victory in its campaign to protect the internationally significant Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in South Australia from mining.

Premier Rann has announced that the Government is suspending indefinitely the drilling operations by Marathon Resources at Mount Gee in the heart of the Sanctuary.

Arkaroola is one of the most significant conservation areas in South Australia, particularly in terms of its geological heritage. It is also an award winning tourist attraction.

SA Campaign Manager, Peter Owen said, “Today’s announcement is welcome news, and an acknowledgement of the importance of the area.  But ultimately the issue is not Marathon’s “cowboy” behaviour, but the fact that some places, like Arkaroola, are simply too precious to mine.”

“The Premier’s announcement creates an opportunity to permanently protect areas of high conservation value. We now call on the Government to ban all mining activity in the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary” he said.

The Wilderness Society has been publically drawing attention to Marathon’s activities in Arkaroola for the past 6 months.