The next 249D, page-4

It was really stupid of him.

Tenement costs get more expensive the longer you hold them.  Either you develop them or give them for someone else.

But many game the system.  Recall Twiggy's mate pegging Minderoo when it came up for grabs

http://www.copyright link/news/digging-up-some-home-truths-20140307-ixmej

Julius is EAR's prize asset.  Company funding has been thin for a long time.  Mt Chalmers was a tough cull handled in completely the wrong way.

On a severity scale of 1-10 for endangering EAR value I think it rates about a 2.