Chief Justice overturns drilling approval at Aboriginal heritage site [View all]

South Australia’s Chief Justice has overturned former Premier Steven Marshall’s controversial decision to allow a mineral exploration company to drill at a sacred Aboriginal heritage site in the state’s outback.

Stephanie Richards
@stephrrichards

ADELAIDE
Friday, Aug 26, 2022

South Australia’s Chief Justice has overturned former Premier Steven Marshall’s controversial decision to allow a mineral exploration company to drill at a sacred Aboriginal heritage site in the state’s outback.

Chief justice Chris Kourakis’ Supreme Court ruling, handed down yesterday, means mineral exploration company Kelaray – a subsidiary of Argonaut Resources – will have to abandon plans to drill more than 1000 holes at Lake Torrens in northern South Australia in search of iron-oxide-copper-gold.

The company claims the decision has “the potential to disrupt several major South Australian construction projects with similar authorisations including the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital project”.

Marshall signed off on Kelaray’s application in December 2020, at the time over-ruling a recommendation from his department, which advised that drilling at Lake Torrens could cause “potential risk to archaeological heritage” and “hurt, sorrow and sickness” to Traditional Owners.

More:
https://indaily.com.au/news/2022/08/26/chief-justice-overturns-drilling-approval-at-aboriginal-heritage-site/