'Mine road will hinder Palmer'The West Australian Neale Prior...

'Mine road will hinder Palmer'
The West Australian Neale Prior The West Australian
March 26, 2014, 6:09 am

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Dio Wang. Picture: Simon Santi/The West Australian. Billionaire politician Clive Palmer's senior WA lieutenant yesterday told the Perth Warden's Court a proposed Pilbara road would hinder future development of two Palmer-controlled mineral exploration tenements.

Australasian Resources managing director and Palmer United Party Senate candidate Dio Wang said the proposed road would compound difficulties in a flood-prone area already constrained by the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline.

He made the claims while testifying for Mr Palmer's flagship company Mineralogy in its objection to attempts by Kerry Stokes' Iron Ore Holdings to get limited Mining Act leases over a corridor of land.

IOH wants to build a 195km private road from its planned iron ore mine south of Panawonica to Dampier, including 75km of road to run alongside the pipeline on two tenements controlled by Mineralogy.

Australasian Resources, which is 70 per cent owned by Palmer interests, is trying to develop the Balmoral South project nearby and has earmarked the tenements for a possible tailings dam and storage.

Mr Wang said in an affidavit filed in the court that Balmoral South gained ministerial environmental approval in 2009.

Under cross-examination by lawyer Tim Kavenagh, Mr Wang admitted the approval did not cover tenements for which the road was proposed.

Mineralogy lawyer Mike Dunham said the road would breach its rights under a State agreement.

Mr Kavenagh said IOH only wanted rights subservient to Mineralogy's. Warden Kevin Tavener reserved his decision until April 24.