Two new industries for Tenterfield

Feathering the nest or digging for gold, Tenterfield Shire approved two new commercial development applications at last week’s session. A poultry research genetics facility at Stannum (south of Tenterfield) and a mining venture at Drake were both presented by the prospective applicants.
Independent organic poultry consultant Michael Sommerlad detailed his proposed operation for “Clover Park” on Torrington Road, Stannum. It is a project funded by RM Williams, and involves Inglewood chickens.
While the venture is tagged as an intensive keeping livestock establishment, he was quick to point out the difference between this organic operation and the traditional poultry farming industry. This project “is just about good old fashioned selection and farming stock”.
He also allayed any fears that this development might be ‘on the nose.’ Unlike intensive poultry sheds, the chickens will be housed in a deep litter environment which means there will no amonia or anaerobic issues. “It relies on biological neutral odour,” he said.
The 2500-bird operation was described as tiny by comparison to intensive industries. “It is just a research facility at this stage. The biomass is less than a 10th of one per cent.”
Stannum is a remote community and this will be a smallscale operation to begin employing one or two full-time staff.  “But there will be opportunity to develop in the future.”  That probably won’t happen on the small Stannum block, but in Tenterfield. According to Mr Sommerlad, “The Shire is ideally situated with a great biosecurity buffer.” He said the project will be the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere. “It’s a great opportunity for wealth production,” he said.
Conventional genetics are for intensive production of layers and broilers, which is not in keeping with organic production standards.  He has been developing his project over a long period, having seen the constraints inhibiting the Australian poultry industry.
Councillors were happy to give the green light and were equally pleased with the second proposal from a mining interest at Drake. Geoff Lowe from White Rock Minerals (a division of Rex Minerals in South Australia), says it is a relatively new company.
It is a listed minerals exploration company with projects located in the New England Fold Belt, northern NSW. First listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in October 2010 in order to pursue new exploration programs in this region, they aim to discover and develop new gold, silver and copper resources.
White Rock is already working at Guyra, NSW, but wants to explore to reopen the old Mount Carrington Mine at Drake. They say there are gold and silver resources there.
These commodities are trading strongly in the market now. Whether there is enough to make it a going concern remains to be seen. White Rock needs to spend $4 to $5 million each year to find out.
They are also interested in copper, which has only been considered a nuisance to gold miners previously. But according to Mr Lowe, “There will be more copper used in the next few years than there has been in the history of man.” This is attributed to the growth and demand from rising industrial nations like China.
The New England Fold Belt has good pedigree for gold deposits that could be bigger in future. The field was first discovered in the 1880s and was mined again in the 1980s but was closed prematurely after just 18 months.
“We’ve set up a company that can get this mine up and running again,” Mr Lowe said. The White Rock company has a lot of work today before they reap rewards.  He admitted they have five years of drilling ahead and this will need to yield results for investors for them to continue.  Monday’s gold prices stood at over $1400(US) per ounce. But profit margins in this game are low.  Drilling is expensive.
The spokesperson admitted they have already spent a lot on environmental management. “The previous mining owners left quite a big legacy. There are pits and tailings dams that need rehabilitation.”  They already built a waste water treatment plant last year at a cost of $1 million. However, the audience was assured this was a no spills operation with little to no impact.
White Rock has a strict environmental policy and they are also bound by new industry regulations requiring written agreements with all landholders.  The rules have changed from 10 years ago. “We don’t dig pits, it’s quite compact. When we are finished, the farmer won’t see where we’ve been.”
White Rock has started proactively engaging with the community to contribute to the regional economy, support local employment where possible, and build community collaboration.
Mayor Toby Smith was happy to speak in support of the development. “Rex and White Rock are good citizens of Drake and the consultation process has been outstanding.”