Apiarist opposing Rio Tinto’s Mt Cattlin lithium | Australian Markets
A bee scientist known as upon by a State Government appeals workplace for her experience has taken the sting out of claims towards Rio Tinto’s lithium waste processing plans.
WA’s Office of the Appeals Convenor, which assesses environmental approval appeals, has rejected a bid to stop Rio from turning waste at its mothballed Mt Cattlin lithium mine close to Ravensthorpe into street building supplies.
Earlier this yr, Rio secured approval for a cell crushing and screening operation to churn via stockpiled basalt waste rock left behind from the manufacturing of spodumene focus.
Jerry Venter, who lives about three kilometres east of the mine, claimed mud from the operation would hurt beehives on his property and mentioned mining exercise previous to Mt Cattlin being totally wound down final month had already broken some hives.
But the apiarist’s claims had been refuted by Kit Prendergast, a native bee scientist who calls herself the “bee babette”. She has a PhD within the biodiversity of native bees and works at Curtin University and the University of Southern Queensland.
“During the appeal investigation, the licence holder provided a formal letter of opinion from Dr Kit Prendergast . . . a bee scientist with over 70 peer reviewed articles on bee health, conservation and ecology,” the Appeals Convenor’s report acknowledged.
“Dr Prendergast believes that the appellant’s beehive loss is most likely from ongoing drought, rather than dust from mining operations.”
The bee scientist concluded “there is no evidence in the literature that inert dust kills hives” and by likelihood had carried out her own analysis within the space a yr in the past.
“Dr Prendergast conducted pollinator surveys along roadside vegetation about 3km northeast of the mining operations in July 2024 and recorded many honeybees on the native flowers, and other insects including native bees.”
But the Appeals Convenor — Eve Drain — beneficial Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn order the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to amend one of the licence situations granted to Rio.
Ms Drain mentioned an modification was required to “remove ambiguity and require management action if a dust exceedance is found”.
Rio in March scooped up the Mt Cattlin mine, which sustained about 300 jobs when at full tilt, as half of its $10.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium.
Arcadium in September earmarked the open pit mine’s mothballing amid low lithium costs.
Stay up to date with the latest news within the Australian markets! Our web site is your go-to source for cutting-edge financial news, market trends, financial insights, and updates on native trade. We present day by day updates to make sure you have entry to the freshest info on Australian stock actions, commodity costs, currency fluctuations, and key financial developments.
Explore how these trends are shaping the long run of Australia’s economic system! Visit us recurrently for probably the most partaking and informative market content material by clicking right here. Our fastidiously curated articles will keep you knowledgeable on market shifts, investment methods, regulatory modifications, and pivotal moments within the Australian financial panorama.
