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Tuesday, 27th June 2006 (2109 views)

The government of Tasmania will annul $600,000 worth of debt owed by the Beaconsfield gold mine, saying that the site is crucial for the future of the local people.

The mine, located in northern Tasmania, has been closed for two months following an April 25th landslip that killed one miner and trapped another two underground for a fortnight.

Tasmania's economic development minister Bryan Green said that waiving a total debt of $659,600 – which mostly relates to stamp duty - would help Beaconsfield on the road to recovery. The debt will be cancelled if the mine reopens in the future.

"Everyone involved in the Beaconsfield recovery process agrees that we have to strive to get the mine reopened and operating again, once it is safe to do so," he told The Age.

He also noted the development's importance: "The mine is profitable and critical for the region's economic and social prosperity."

Meanwhile an A$8 million future fund has been created for the Beaconsfield mining community, with applications for grants being accepted for tomorrow (June 28). The grants will be made available for economic and social projects in the area.

 

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