Northern Grampians Shire Council played quite a trump card at its special meeting on Monday night when it voted in favour of formally recognising a briefing paper presented on the Stawell Gold Mine Big Hill Enhanced Development Project as its submission to Planning Panels Victoria on the Environmental Effects Statement process.
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The motion showed council's strong commitment to the wellbeing of Stawell as a whole - businesses, individuals and the community in general, as the adopted submission to the EES panel contains 17 questions or points of concern that will need to be addressed, before there is any hint of council making any recommendation to the Planning Minister for approval of the project.
Council did offer its in principle support in February last year, for Stawell Gold Mines to pursue the Big Hill Enhanced Development Project subject to conditions.
These conditions were put in place to ensure that the community, environmental and economic benefits clearly outweigh any detrimental impacts.
Contrary to some reports, Monday's decision was in no way a blessing from council for Stawell Gold Mines to open cut mine Big Hill.
It certainly was a hand well played by council - Their in principle support of the company pursuing the project remains intact, while the submission and its conditions ensures that the best interests of the entire community are going to be put first before any blessing or otherwise is given.
