No mining lease for Caroona

The amendments prevent BHP Billiton from applying for a mining lease that includes any of the following in the Caroona EL area:
. long wall mining underneath the deep alluvial irrigation aquifers;
. long wall mining underneath the floodplain; and
. open cut mining on the floodplain.
BHP Billiton said in a statement that is has made this public commitment previously, which it believes addresses community concerns about protection of key agricultural land and the region’s water supply.
This follows BHP’s review of its exploration and development plans for the area.
“…now it is written in stone - no mining lease application can consider long wall mining under the deep alluvial aquifers or the floodplains," BHP Billiton president energy coal, Jimmy Wilson said.
Newly appointed, Jimmy Wilson, comes to the role after 17 years with BHP Billiton in key managerial and operating roles in the organisation. He was president of stainless steel materials from 2007 until August this year.
BHP Billiton also announced that it will provide a share of the funding for the Government's Independent Water Study currently being implemented.
Additionally, it will incorporate the findings of the Water Study as part of any environmental assessment it undertakes.
"Local landholders have called for a regional groundwater study and have committed publicly to drop their blockade when the study is commissioned. BHP Billiton supports the completion of this Study and…is already collecting data that we will provide to this independent Water Study.
"We know we will be judged by what we do, not by what we say and we are committed to fulfilling our obligations in relation to the protection of the environment through our activities.
"This strikes a balance between protecting the valuable agricultural land and the potential of thousands of jobs that mining could bring to the region," said Wilson.