Mining company withdraws pending exploration licence in Denmark after nearly 12,000 people sign petition

A Denmark exploration licence application submitted by mining company United Funds has been withdrawn after the local Shire lodged a formal objection and nearly 12,000 people signed a petition objecting to the application. United Funds lodged a notification on May 16 to withdraw its application for the exploration licence, according to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. The application was submitted in May last year and covered an area on the southern side of South Coast Highway near Williams Bay National Park. At a council meeting on April 19, Cr Donald Clarke put forward a motion asking the Shire to formally object to the exploration licence application despite the objection period being closed. According to Cr Clarke’s report to the council, no landowners were served with notice of the application and there were no objections received from Denmark residents during the objection period His fellow councillors unanimously voted to lodge a formal notice of an objection with the WA Mining Warden and request that the objection period be reopened to let landowners and other community members have their say. Councillors supported the motion on the grounds that Shire officers understood landowners had not received notice of the application. However, officers also noted that concerns about mining impacts were not valid because a mine was not being proposed. Cr Clarke said he was pleased with the outcome although he was “fairly confident” the application would not have been successful. “This sort of application on prime farming land with high environmental value does nothing but cause alarm in the community,” he said.. “There is definitely a sense of relief in the community and people would be very pleased that they pulled together to express their concerns. “The community response will more likely ensure that explorers will more likely consider community response before making similar applications (in Denmark).” Meanwhile, a group of concerned residents formed an advocacy group called Save Denmark and launched a petition opposing the application which attracted nearly 12,000 signatures. Prominent Denmark farmer and eco-tourism operator Stephen Birkbeck also spoke out against the application, voicing his concerns about the process and the prospect of mining. Earlier this month, DMIRS resource tenure executive director Kristian Dawson said an exploration licence could allow a successful applicant to disturb up to 1000 tonnes of ground material. “The holder of an exploration licence may, in accordance with the licence conditions, extract or disturb up to 1000 tonnes of material from the ground which includes overburden,” he said. “The minister may approve extraction of larger tonnages.” Mr Dawson also confirmed that DMIRS had received several late objections to the Denmark exploration licence application. “A number of late objections to this application have been received but in order for these objections to be considered by the warden, the objectors need to lodge an extension of time,” he said.