MEDIA RELEASE

MEDIA RELEASE

30 Mar 2006

Protesters crank up anti-gold mine campaign as gold pour imminent at Lake Cowal

As Barrick Gold gears up to begin pouring gold at Lake Cowal, Central-Western New South Wales, protesters are cranking up their anti-gold mining campaign.

Wiradjuri Traditional Owner, Neville Williams, who is in his fifth year of struggle against the mine vows he won't give up the fight to protect Wiradjuri culture -- ever.

"Lake Cowal is our heartland and we'll never give up fighting for or let go of our culture which is thousands of years old. They tell us gold will be poured soon, but we are keeping up our campaign, here in Australia and overseas," Mr Williams said.

"The construction of the mine has already desecrated this sacred place, even before gold is poured. According to our Old People, the gold that is about to be ripped out of the ground is the blood of Biame, the Creator. When gold is taken out of the land, the balance of Nature and of the Spirit is changed, affecting the weather, wildlife and people. Native wildlife deaths have already been reported at the mine site. Eighty per cent of mined gold is used for jewellery. How many people, animals and birds will have to be sacrificed for greed?

"The Lake Cowal landscape has already changed dramatically and irrevocably in the few years since mine construction began. More than 10,000 artefacts have been collected in the Mining Lease Area where our people have camped for thousands of years. Barrick is not listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. Most of the profits from this mine will go overseas to Barrick's shareholders, leaving behind massive destruction in the form of a huge open pit that will scar the land forever -- a legacy for future generations.

"The New South Wales Government and the company went ahead with the mine regardless of the views of Traditional Owners and strong opposition from the majority of Wiradjuri people. They have never received our permission.

"Human beings aren't above Nature. We believe that the gold mine at Lake Cowal is still a disaster waiting to happen, even with the government consent conditions. There can be no guarantees with gold mines. History shows what cyanide leaching does to the environment. There are many examples all around the world. In January, Australian company Lafayette Mining Ltd was fined around $A207,000 and its mining operations suspended after two cyanide spills at its gold, copper and silver mine on Rapu-Rapu Island in the Philippines. The more recent of the two spills was caused by heavy rains at the mine site. Back in 1992, a train carrying a shipment of cyanide derailed at Condobolin causing the town to be on Red Alert ready to be evacuated in the event of rain. It was only pure luck that after the cyanide spill it did not rain releasing deadly cyanide gas from the pellets strewn over a wide area.

"So far Barrick has been very lucky because it hasn't rained very heavily at Lake Cowal. This drought has to break sometime though and then the floods will come. We should take heed of the recent natural disasters, like the cyclones, earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunami that have been happening around the world. Local knowledge tells us that the bund wall is not extensive enough to prevent the mine flooding in a once-in-a lifetime major event. The authorities also play down the fact that Lake Cowal is in an active earthquake area.

We hear that locals are worried about the water level in the Bland Paleochannel, the underground river which is our sacred dreaming track. Barrick won't be able to take enough water from the groundwater sources near Lake Cowal because they are embargoed. We'd like to know where they intend buying other water resources.

"We'd also like to know the routes along which the cyanide will be transported. The government is very secretive about letting this information out, but the public has the right to know what dangerous and toxic chemicals are being hauled along our roads and in our trains. As more mines come online the dangers are only being multiplied. Public health and the environment is also at risk from toxic mine dust. Big dust storms happen quite often in the Lake Cowal area and, if it contained toxic mine emissions, wherever the dust settles it could affect public health and wildlife as well as contaminate waterways, crops and soil.

"It's our responsibility as Wiradjuri custodians of the land to bring the dangers of gold mining to the public's attention. On 31 March, the last day of the quarter when Barrick is supposed to begin pouring gold, an exhibition of Aboriginal art titled "Mining Sacred Ground: stories from our earth" will be opened at the Boomalli Art Gallery in Sydney. This exhibition features works about Lake Cowal by Wiradjuri people and Narren Lake by Euahlayi and Gamilaroi artists.

"We'll be taking our protest to Lake Cowal at Easter. Everyone who wants to see the eventual end to Dirty Gold is invited to join us at our Easter Corroboree from 14 to 17 April 2006," Mr Williams said.

Canberra

30 March 2006

Contacts

Neville Williams, Wiradjuri Traditional Owner 0416 316 774 or

Ellie Gilbert 0421 795 639

"Mining Sacred Ground: stories from our earth" Exhibition

31 March to 14 April 2006

Techa Beaumont, Mineral Policy Institute, (02) 9557 9019, Mobile 0409 318 406. Details of exhibition and workshop at http://www.mpi.org.au

"Mining Sacred Ground: stories from our earth" Exhibition

31 March to 14 April 2006

Boomalli Gallery

55-59 Flood Street

Leichhardt NSW

Lake Cowal Easter Corroboree 14–17 April 2006

Supported by

Friends of the Earth National Campaign

Natalie Lowrey

Mobile 0431 194 083

Details at http://www.savelakecowal.org/