AN Aboriginal elder has lost a protracted court bid to block the $30 billion expansion to the Olympic Dam copper, uranium and gold mine in South Australia.
Kevin Buzzacott first took his case to the Federal Court in early 2012, claiming then federal Environment Minister Tony Burke had not given enough consideration to several issues before granting approval.
Mr Buzzacott’s appeal to the full court of the Federal Court was prompted when a single judge dismissed an initial action.
But the full court has now also dismissed his appeal, more than 12 months after he first argued his case and more than six months after mining giant BHP Billiton put the expansion on hold.
See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=12461.