8 Arrested at Lake Cowal Protest, Hunger Strike Set to Start : Melbourne Indymedia

MEDIA RELEASE
16 April 2006

Work stopped at Lake Cowal Gold Mine with eight arrested.

Mining operations at Barrick’s Lake Cowal Gold Project were stopped for over five hours on Easter Sunday while a group of nearly one hundred, walked on to the mine site.

The group included representatives from every state of the country, Wiradjuri traditional owners and locals, half a dozen scientists, grandparents, students, filmmakers, artists and more, all united in their concerns over the mine’s safety and social implications.
Eight people were arrested during the stop work action, with one supporter locking on to earth moving machinery.

One of the arrestees refused the bail conditions set, and will be transferred to the Griffith Remand Centre. Here, he will go on hunger strike for the protection of water, as a statement against the cyanide being used at the Lake Cowal Gold Project.

“We are pleased with the peaceful walk-on at the Lake Cowal mine site, hopefully it will send a message out to the directors and CEO of the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation (WCC) and Barrick gold, that the Wiradjuri Nation is not for sale!” Mark Powell, a local Wiradjuri man said.

Barrick Gold is now the worlds largest gold mining company with 3 new mines under construction, all of which have been opposed by local and indigenous communities over environmental and social impacts.

“The scientific significance of the Lake and its’ surrounding floodplains is overwhelming. Much of the open pit is inside the Lake bed, which is as deep as Centrepoint tower is high, and the cyanide ponds adjacent to the Lake are of great National concern for the Murray Darling Basin.” Environmental Scientist, Ms Kirsten Blood stated. “There is no guarantee that migratory birds that frequent the lake will not bathe in the cyanide ponds, and that there will not be an accident with the 21.5tons of cyanide that is proposed to be used in this mine every day.”

Kevin Hutley, who was in charge of the police response, was “quite impressed with the protesters organization, and negotiation skills.” Also stating “It is good to see there is concern for the environment.”

Build up to this gathering has been growing nationally, with a National Day of Action last month. The “Cyanide Watch,” tour will be launched on Easter Monday when cyanide arrives on site. The message seems clear. Opposition to this mine is growing.

“Lake Cowal is still Wiradjuri Land, Wiradjuri sovereignty has never been ceded. Wiradjuri Nation has protected Lake Cowal from the beginning of time we all owe it to future generations to ensure that this cyanide leaching gold mine is stopped forever as it is a desecration of the Wiradjuri Sacred heartland and an environmental disaster,” Ellie Gilbert, an arrestee stated, “A major flood will inundate the mine causing untold toxic pollution. Even a major waterway, Humbug creek was left out of the EIS no proper flood study has been carried out.”

Contacts:
Protest Camp (inc. Mark Powell and Steven ‘Ducky’ Coe, Wiradjuri Traditional Owners)
0416 930 493

Ellie Gilbert
0421 795 639

Further Information.
http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/gold/lakep.html
http://www.savelakecowal.org
http://www.peacebus.com/CyanideWatch