RESOURCE owners in Sabeto are calling for assurance from the government regarding the long-term environmental impact of development activities, particularly mining operations on the Sabeto River.
This comes after a discharge incident by Lion One Ltd in May led to the discovery of dead fish and eels, prompting the Environment and Climate Change Ministry to advise residents against using the river.
Chairman of the vanua o Betoraurau, Sabeto committee Don Natabe expressed frustration over the delay in applying penalties for the discharge, stating it was prolonging the resolution of this problem.
“One of the key things that have occurred immediately after the incident was that they had never ever reached out to any of the communities from the point of discharge, down right up to the mouth of the Sabeto River, to actually inform them, to put out a notice through the established channels within the vanua and within our wards to all our tenants that come into contact with the river of the actual problem,” he said.
“We want an assurance from the government that the environment management plan for the mine is actually sufficient to ensure that there are no adverse effects of the mining operation.”
Mr Natabe said Lion One Ltd only officially commenced gold production in Sabeto on October 10, 2023. He also questioned the adequacy of the initial impact assessment.
“Given that this has happened and it’s only, they’ve only opened in 2023, so 2024-25, it’s only the second year running.”
“They’re actually applying for an increase in the mining lease area, the surface lease, so that tells us that the mine is actually going to expand.
“We want to ensure that the Sabeto in future is actually a livable one, not one that is in a way where you see the site of destruction, you know, lifelessness in terms of the ecosystem, that, you know, we don’t want to be in that state.”
Mr Natabe said the incident has prompted the resource owners to go a step further to advocate for good environment stewardship.
“We want government to actually act out, not only in policy, not only in speeches.
“We’ve gone right around the world, preaching to others about climate change, protecting the environment.”
The Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr Sivendra Michael said all necessary measures had been undertaken to ascertain water safety levels through quality tests.
“So, we had initially conducted water quality tests on two separate occasions and thereafter we have done ad hoc water quality tests to then inform the members of the public on the necessary actions that we have undertaken,” he said.
Mr Michael confirmed that a prohibition notice was issued to Lion One Ltd to cease all discharge of untreated effluent due to a breach in their environmental impact assessment conditions and waste disposal permit.
“So, to date, Lion 1 has ceased all discharge of untreated affluence and that is the same communication that has come from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources regarding the breach of their mining lease conditions.”
Mr Michael said the ministry has from the onset made it clear that it cannot be part of that committee because its legal mandate does not allow it to do so.
“I have actually communicated this morning to the iTaukei Land Trust board colleagues, the legal team, if they could schedule a meeting with the Vanua so that they are now trying to find a suitable date.
“Cabinet has approved the amendment of legislation just two cabinet meetings ago. And this is a process in itself. And we will always come back to the community to consult on those matters.”
Vanua o Betoraurau (Sabeto) Environment Committee member Benjamin Kush, from left, vanua headman Apisalomi Saukuru and committee chairman Don Natabe.
Picture: SALOTE QALUBAU
