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Tuesday, 24th April 2007 (1911 views)

Barrick Gold, one of the world's largest gold miners, has claimed that it is entitled to a fair share of the water at its Cowal gold mine site in Australia.

The gold mine, near West Wyalong in the Murray-Darling Basin, uses a large amount of water for operations, but the company claims any shortage of water in the area should not affect production.

Barrick buys water from local irrigators, putting money into the local community, but can also rely on its own bore licence to obtain water should the local reserves run out.

However, some environmentalists are complaining that the mine is using too much water - a claim Barrick contests, saying it is simply another industrial user.

Speaking to ABC news agency, Bill Shallvey from Barrick said: "Barrick is just another user, just the same as all other primary industries or industries in the system, so I guess if we're treated equally that's all we're asking for."

He added: "Once the channel water is finished we will be able to start up the borefield again and providing we continue to manage that, working with the local community over there, we don't see a real issue but, yes, we need to be conscious of where we are and where we all are at the moment."

 

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