Further arrests at mine site

AN environmental science student has been arrested at Venture Minerals’ Riley mine site at Tullah as protesters return to the iron ore project to show their opposition to mining in the Tarkine.

Laura Vermeersch was joined by 10 other protesters on Monday and shut down the mine entrance.

Tasmania Police arrived and arrests were made.

On the same morning in Hobart a group of 19 Bob Brown Foundation protesters appeared in court on trespass charges in relation to an ongoing protest at MMG’s proposed tailings dam site about 8km away.

Venture Minerals has booked its first iron ore shipment for early September out of Burnie. A bulk carrier vessel has been chartered from an international shipping operator and offtake partner.

The fresh protest action at the Venture Minerals site comes as legal action is launched on behalf of Tasmanian conservationists to stop the company being allowed to truck ore at night – a move conservationists say will put Tasmanian devils in greater danger of becoming roadkill.