Wetland decision deferred
By David Brazil
Greater Taree City Council this week reserved a decision on a sand mining development application affecting one of the most sensitive wetlands on the NSW north coast.
BHP-Utah wants to establish mining operations at Salt Water, a coastal wetland 14 km south of Taree. The area is one of the last unmined wetlands in NSW.
In 1990, the Greiner government's Coastal Planning Policy overturned draft environmental guidelines banning wetlands mining. "The complete U-turn on this issue leaves these sensitive areas under threat", says Keith Muir of the Total Environment Centre.
The council has asked the company to resubmit its environmental impact statement in a month's time. n