Bob Brown Foundation has shut down MMG’s drill rig on the site of its proposed toxic heavy metals tailings dam because of alleged breaches by the company of undertakings given to the Federal Court last month. The drill rig arrived a couple of days ago and hasn’t been able to leave the middle of the road where we’ve halted it for two days with protests.

The undertaking that the company would not operate within 15 metres of a tree with a diameter of one metre or more was given to the court in lieu of an injunction sought by Bob Brown Foundation to protect Tasmanian Masked Owl ahead of reconsideration by the Federal Minister of EPBC permits granted for drilling and roading.

Bob Brown Foundation has documented 13 sites along Helilog Road where this undertaking has been breached between 24-29 July.

Tenisha Van Dam (20) has locked on to a drill rig to prevent continuation of the unlawful works.

“I am here in takayna because I know that once these trees come down there is no going back. Now is not the time to be complacent, we need action for Earth," said Tenisha Van Dam.

“Again this company has shown its disregard for Australia’s environmental laws, and in this case an undertaking it made to the court less than a month ago. They cannot be trusted in World Heritage value forests like takayna / Tarkine”, said Bob Brown Foundation takayna / Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

“If the Minister needed any more confirmation that this company should not hold environmental permits, it is now etched into the landscape”.

Bob Brown Foundation will be appearing in the Federal Court at 3.15 AEST today to seek that in light of MMG’s breach of its undertaking and associated court order an injunction be granted preventing works until the current challenge to the EPBC permit is resolved by the Federal Court. The hearing for this challenge is set down for 19 July.

Concurrently, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has indicated that a decision on the reconsideration will be unavailable until mid July at the earliest. The reconsideration was triggered by Bob Brown Foundation.