AN ongoing access saga at Georgetown between a gold mining company and a cattle grazier was due to be heard in the state’s Land Court this week.
The dispute arose last October when ERO Georgetown Gold erected a fence across an Etheridge Shire Council access road to Flat Creek Station, citing Workplace Health and Safety obligations.
The action turned a 45 minute drive into an hour-and-a-half trek along an alternate four wheel drive track.
A November meeting between senior officers from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, the Etheridge Shire Council and the mining leaseholders brought an agreement from the mining company that the property owner and designated employees could have ongoing access, provided they completed a safety induction.
Flat Creek property owner Peter Henry told the Queensland Country Life that this was an unworkable solution.
Mr Henry said each induction would have cost $700, and they would have been required to give 24 hours notice and be escorted each time they entered the mining lease.
“You can’t run a property like that,” he said.
Mr Henry also runs a tourist business, offering station tours, fossicking and birdwatching, to supplement the property income, but he said it had virtually come to a halt since the fence had been erected.
“A neighbour is letting us use an access track to the north but it’s only for four wheel drives, not camper vans and the like,” he said.
Mr Henry has twice resorted to walking his cattle out to the neighbouring property to truck them, a three hour walk that he employed six extra staff for.
“This is a public road we’re talking about – I’m just flabbergasted this can go on so long,” he said.
According to Property Rights Australia vice chair Dale Stiller, it’s another case where a practical solution is available but not taken.
“There’s no need for this type of drama,” he said. “Commonsense says, we’re going to be mining across your access road so we’ll grade you another road.”
The Land Court hearing was set down to take place in Georgetown this week, beginning with a field trip to the site on Tuesday.