Frontier: Mine far from track

PERTH: Frontier Resources Ltd says the 600-metre section of the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea that it proposes to mine is not part of the original track used in World War II.
Managing director Peter McNeil told AAP the section of the track the company planned to mine was a dog leg to the original track where Australian troops fought Japanese soldiers in 1942.
The proposal has been slammed by the Australian government, which says the trail should be heritage protected.
McNeil said the company could alter the perimeter of the proposed pit to leave part of the resource in the ground.
The proposed development is estimated to contain 2.4 million tonnes of copper equivalent with US$8 billion (K23.5 billion) of in-ground value based on current prices.
Frontier Resources has promised to grant a 5% interest to land owners for all of the company’s PNG developments.
Barney Jack, a spokesman for the Kodu resource owners association, a local land group, said the original track was two to three kilometres away from where the company proposed to develop an open pit copper mine.
“Everybody is for it and we think it is the only opportunity to change our lifestyle.
“Give us a far go and let us achieve what we want which is development.”
Jack said the land owners would like an active role in the company that was proposed to be set up to operate the mine, Koiari Copper, and possibly a board seat.
He said the proposal was supported by all landholders in the project area.
Jack said the Australian government needed to accept that the mine would be good for villagers, bringing in far more funds that tourism.
Frontier Resources says the Australian government has turned the PNG Government off the proposed mine development.
The mining licence that covers the project lapsed nearly 18 months ago and licence renewal has been delayed by about six months.
McNeil said a licence was expected to be issued in a few months and Jack said he believed the PNG Government would listen to land owners’ support for the proposal. – AAP