Taronga Tin Mine

I am supporting the attached submission by Robert Overmars (see contact details at end of his submission) as I also have concerns about the road dust levels, noise pollution, and visual impact given my close proximity to the actual mine, if the mining project goes ahead.
Stuart Griffiths.

This submission is more in the form of a question. Taronga Mines Pty Ltd EIS submission Appendix 7 Air Quality contains the information that mercury is one of the contaminants measured at the mine site. This writer requires to know the quantity of mercury measured, whether the mercury measured is in the metallic form, and if not what compounds of mercury are present and whether any analysis and measurement of methyl mercury has been conducted and whether any research has been conducted as to elemental or mercury compounds present at Taronga Mine Site which when disturbed and dispersed into the environment surrounding Taronga Mine could convert by anaerobic bacteria or other mechanism to the highly toxic methyl mercury compound of mercury known to be toxic even at parts per billion?
Robert Overmars
3133 Gulf Rd
Emmaville NSW 2371

I object to the project due to the close proximity of the mine being less than 1.5 km south/west of my property and residence , my main concerns are noise and dust that will be created from the mine which will be a 24/7 operation. I dont believe that dust and noise created will be able to be controlled to an acceptable level when south or sou'wester winds blow directly towards my property.

objection byway of submission

objection as per submission

this project will be fantastic for the small town of Emmaville NSW 2371, it will create employment and jobs for the locals and upcoming youth from our area who need employment to live close to home and not needing to live in the big city where rents are too much.
I believe this will help generate good working opportunities for the unemployed and all who are willing to give it ago.
this type of mine is needed for the future life of many small towns that rely on jobs.

The establishment of the Taronga Tin Mine will bring employment opportunities to the village of Emmaville and surrounding towns such as Glen Innes, Tenterfield and Inverell. Local businesses within the area will also benefit from the mine. This will create a domino affect in that the communities will benefit both financially and economically.
Throughout the initial developmental stage, there has been consistent and varied consultation with the community outlining all the steps involved in the production of this project. In particular, the community meetings held in Emmaville have ensured the locals have had an opportunity to voice their support and concerns. At these meetings, representatives of the mine such as the CEO, the COO, the GM and the liason officer were present and approachable to the attendees. Regular newsletters have been posted to residents of the village, again offering accurate information.
Taronga Mines have been very supportive of local community groups. An example of this is the donation of a BBQ to the Emmaville Mens Group. This has given a valuable asset which has been used regularly for further community events, such as markets and meetings. Another generous donation by the mines has been the purchase of Roobot. This sculpture is now proudly situated within the local RSL park. As a consequence, there has been an increase of tourists to the village to see this unique sculpture.
I feel confident that all environmental issues have been researched and processes have been put in place for the restoration of the site on completion of the mine's life.

Emmaville village has been declining for years. My children attend the Emmaville School which is a great facility, but the economic decline of the area means fewer students and families as there are few jobs in the area. My children would love the opportunity to stay close to home and have a job that will provide a decent living, but they are all intelligent and will most likely have to leave to attend university or find employment. The Taronga Tin mine could support the community and keep families together by offering jobs and new families could move here to retreat the prosperous town that it once was.
A flow on effect will be that other businesses could then be available in the local area as the population increased.
Please support the country areas of Australia and let the mine be opened.

I’m a local resident and I support the Taronga Tin Mine project. I believe it will bring much needed jobs and help local families and businesses. Our community could really benefit from the boost to the local economy.

As a property owner in Emmaville I feel that the community will benefit greatly from the Taronga Mines project. Our town is historically a mining town, and to see it operating again would bring new life to the area. I am satisfied that the benefits to the community will far outweigh any perceived issues.

I have a number of concerns regarding the traffic and traffic movements referred to in the EIS.
The Gulf Road leading out to the Grampians Road turn off is not wide enough for a B-Double and another vehicle to pass each without one of them having to get off the road.

The EIS states (Listed Below) that the road does not meet road width guidelines but does not trigger a need for the road to be widened, the width of the existing bitumen road at the front of our property at 152 Gulf Road is 4.5 mts which is too narrow and should be widened, and with the number of projected vehicle daily movements the last thing I want to be doing as a Deputy Captain of the RFS is to be pulling people out of traffic accidents.

The existing seal width on Gulf Road does not meet the current road width guidelines contained in Austroads (2021) for roads carrying AADT 150 to 500 vehicles per day. The existing width is adequate for two vehicles to pass and remain on the seal, noting that the additional sealed shoulder width contained in Austroads (2021) would reduce maintenance requirements. The Project would not trigger a need for a different road width standard compared with the existing road, which is used by heavy vehicles including school buses.

I also feel that the speed limit on the Gulf Road will need to be decreased to 80klm per hour from town to the property known as “Wattle Hill” which is approx. 250mtrs from the Grampians Road turn off and then sign posted to 60klm approaching the turnoff also have the speed limit changed at the Emmaville Golf Club to 80klm up to 250mtrs on the northside of the Grampians Road then changed to 60klm nearing the intersection therefore making the intersection far safer.

As the Landowner of the property that the Grampians Road goes through I have not been given any information on what changes that are to be made to the existing road and what encroaches are to be into our property, I did give permission to Taronga Tin Mine to let surveyors in to survey the road and all that I have heard is that they may encroach on my property in a couple of places. I should be involved in any discussions regarding encroachment on to my property.

Correct me if I am wrong but nothing has been mentioned regarding dust suppression on the Grampians Road while vehicles are travelling to and from the Mine Site and that dust from the road that would be a contaminate for the wool that is growing on the fine wool Merino sheep in the paddock the traffic is travelling through. This dust will downgrade the price that I receive for the wool when it is tested and sold, I did have conversations with the previous owners of the mine regarding this issue.

I am a middle-aged resident of Emmaville. I strongly support the Taronga Tin Project.
The project will bring much needed jobs to the area. At present, the community is a very aged community as children need to leave to go to big towns for work and rarely return. Taronga Mines will bring jobs to locals and economy to local businesses allowing families to remain in the area and close together.
Their open and honest communication with the community has been greatly appreciated. Their affects on the community have been well considered in conjunction with feedback from community members, particularly around traffic movement during peak hours and school times.
The locals first policy is a strong reason for my support of the project.

My home is in close proximity (within the 3km boundary) to the proposed Taronga Tin Mine, Emmaville. I have been advised by the mine representatives that myself and my family will hear the operations of the mine activities. (refer to 6.14.2 of the E.I.S. for this project - "near neighbours 3 kms from the site, these groups were most likely to experience amenity impacts").
This has already been highlighted as the noise from the exploration test drilling at that site is very audible from inside and outside of my home. If the noise can not be mitigated, I then am objecting to this project going ahead.

I support

I am writing as an Emmaville resident to support the Taronga Tin Mine proposal. Our town was built on tin: from the first rush in the 1870s through to the present, mining has shaped our school, hospital, Emmaville Mining Museum, businesses and clubs, and it remains central to our identity. We are proud of that history, and we want a future here that lets families stay, work and raise kids without having to leave the district, as I had to when I built my career in the Information Technology industry.
Taronga’s locals-first approach is already making a difference. I appreciate that Taronga Mines is already acting on their locals-first policy by employing locals and using local businesses wherever possible during their exploration phase. Stable, skilled jobs keep people in town, support our local businesses, and flow through to local trades, transport and services. For a small community like ours, the certainty of ongoing employment is the difference between barely surviving and genuinely thriving.
I also want to acknowledge the very real, practical support Taronga has already provided to Emmaville. Their donations and community backing have helped fund the hospital ramp, supplied a barbecue for the men’s group, and contributed to the Roobot sculpture in a substantial way: they purchased Roobot from an artist, negotiated with Glen Innes Severn Council to secure a location in the RSL Park, and arranged for its installation. This has already brought tourists into town who might otherwise have driven straight past, lifting local pride and giving visitors a reason to stop, take photos and support local businesses. They have also assisted in establishing the Emmaville Progress Association.
Tin is a metal that matters to Australia’s future. It is essential to solder and electrical interconnects in everyday electronics like phones and computers, to the connections that make solar panels work, to components in electric vehicles and batteries, and to tin-plated cans that keep food on the shelf. Demand for tin is on the rise as Australia and the world expand renewable energy, electrified transport and advanced computing. In particular, AI data centres rely on vast numbers of servers and power systems whose circuit boards, high-reliability solder joints and power electronics all depend on tin-based materials. If New South Wales and Australia are serious about clean energy, secure digital infrastructure and resilient supply chains, responsible domestic tin production should be part of the plan.
I support approval subject to clear, enforceable conditions that keep benefits local and manage impacts well. That means a published locals-first hiring plan with targets for Emmaville and the Glen Innes Severn area; apprenticeships and traineeships for operators, fitters, electricians, lab and environmental technicians; and partnerships with local schools and TAFE for work experience and accredited training. It also means fair access for local businesses through supplier briefings and practical procurement targets so small firms can participate.
On balance, this project is the right fit for Emmaville. It respects where we have come from, supports where we are now, and helps build where we want to go. With strong conditions that prioritise local jobs and training, guarantee transparent environmental performance and deliver tangible community benefits, Taronga can operate responsibly while giving our town the stability and opportunity it deserves. I therefore support approval of the Taronga Tin Mine.

The Emmaville district is the historic tin mining center of NSW. It is great to see renewed tin mining in this region which will see positive impacts for the surrounding communities. The proposed mine will literally save several small townships in the region which only exist due to historic tin mining. This will bring jobs, infrastructure and people back to the region which is excellent. The land in question is rugged and of poor agricultural quality so mining it for tin is the best outcome with no downside.
Taronga Mines have been working diligently with the Emmaville community for 3 years now and have already had a very positive impact on the town. Starting a mine here will be such a boon for the community which desperately needs it. The current population is around 250 which gets smaller every year as kids leave school and move away for work and the older population pass away. This mine will revitalise the town and lead to growth helping to preserve its amazing history.

I wish to express my strong support for the proposed Taronga Tin Mine Project in the Glen Innes region. This project represents a significant and responsible opportunity for regional economic growth, local employment, and sustainable resource development in northern New South Wales.

Economic Benefits
The Taronga Tin Project will bring substantial economic value to the Glen Innes Severn Shire and the wider Northern Tablelands. The project is expected to inject tens of millions of dollars into the local economy, stimulating growth across multiple sectors such as transport, maintenance, accommodation, fuel supply, and equipment hire. The flow-on effect from local procurement and service contracts will strengthen regional small and medium businesses, creating a more resilient economic base for the community.

Employment and Skills Development
Mining and processing activities at Taronga will generate long-term employment opportunities for local residents, including skilled and semi-skilled labour. Construction and operations phases will create jobs for fitters, operators, electricians, mechanics, contractors, and support personnel, many of which can be sourced from within the region. This will reduce the need for fly-in/fly-out workforces and ensure the benefits remain local.
Additionally, the project presents an opportunity for apprenticeships, training partnerships, and skills development programs, providing career pathways for young people in Glen Innes and surrounding areas.

Regional Growth and Community Stability
The Taronga project aligns with the Shire’s economic development goals by promoting responsible industry diversification and supporting population stability. The increase in steady, well-paid employment will help sustain local schools, small businesses, and essential services. Furthermore, infrastructure upgrades associated with the project—such as roads, communications, and utilities—will deliver enduring benefits to the community long after the mine’s operational life.

Sustainable Development and Resource Importance
Tin is a critical mineral essential to clean energy technologies and modern manufacturing, including solar, electronics, and battery systems. The Taronga deposit provides a strategic domestic supply that will support Australia’s transition to renewable energy and reduce reliance on overseas sources.
The project’s proponent has demonstrated a commitment to environmental responsibility and progressive rehabilitation, ensuring that operations meet NSW regulatory standards and community expectations.

In conclusion, the Taronga Tin Project represents a well-managed, economically valuable, and environmentally responsible development that will bring genuine, lasting benefits to the Glen Innes region. I strongly support its approval and progression.