Koi, Kachi is 3000m above sea level. That's about 10000ft. La...

Koi, Kachi is 3000m above sea level. That's about 10000ft. La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, a city of suburban pop of over 2 million people, functions quite easily at above 12000 ft. Mexico City, a giant metropolis of about 20m people is in a volcanic caldera at 7300 ft, But the surrounding mtns which have to be crossed for road entry, are also populated, and are as high as 16000ft. People seem to manage ok.
I've been to 12000ft and all it takes is a bit of acclimatisation, but it's no big deal.
Don't let a bit of rehearsed propaganda stop you from getting involved. Many things can go wrong, but at least get the facts straight before you go repeating false ones.
Yes it's remote, but are most Australian mines.