If King Charles does nothing else during his reign, he certainly started on the right foot with a notable inclusion to his first round of birthday honours.

Scanning the Kings Birthday honours list one name jumped out at The Roadhouse, that of Philip Crabb (now) AM.

Some might say, and they would be correct, that such recognition should have come Crabb’s way much earlier, especially given his long record of contribution to the Australian mining industry and the greater community.

Mining is genetic to Crabb, born in Kalgoorlie in 1940, he went on to become a fixture of the industry with a list of achievements longer than what our usual word count can cater to.

His roles over the journey have included drilling and blasting contracting and being a senior quarry manager and a mining contractor.

He is mostly acknowledged, however, for his involvement in mining and exploration activities leading to directorships on the boards of both publicly listed and private exploration companies, many of which he was responsible for floating.

At 83 years of age, Crabb shows little sign of slowing down and is currently the major shareholder of Ora Gold Limited (Formally known as Thundelarra Limited) and a founding and major shareholder of TG Metals Limited which only listed on the ASX last year.

Crabb’s mining involvements have not always been about him.

He is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy where he has mentored many up-and-coming miners through their introduction to the industry to becoming leaders in the own rights.

He is also a member of the Institute of Company Directors and was a founding member of the Kalgoorlie Mining Hall of Fame.

Philanthropy has also been a hallmark of Crabb’s life working for the community playing leading roles within many organisations, including the State Library of WA, The Salvation Army, and the Cancer Council of WA.

Sport has also been a recipient of his generosity, resulting in Life Memberships being awarded by both the South Bunbury and Claremont Football Clubs.

All we can say is, well done King Charles for handing out the gong, but forgive us here at the Roadhouse if we save our three cheers for the man we consider King of Mining in WA, Philip Crabb.

Hip Hip…

COMMODITY CAPERS: A phrase often used by companies entering and exploring in a region before others is ‘First Mover’, however, being the first exploration/mining company in doesn’t give right to that claim.

Sometimes, we need to be reminded that mining, as important as it is to the national economy, is not the be all and end all of Australian industry.

This was demonstrated this week when the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) rejected a Mining Lease Application from Terramin (ASX: TZN) for the company’s Bird in Hand gold project.

Terramin responded by saying it was, “surprised and disappointed by this decision”.

The company explained it had submitted its applications on the back of comprehensive scientific studies that demonstrated its mining activities would have no adverse environmental outcomes.

“These studies were peer reviewed by independent and Government experts over many years,” Terramin said.

“Terramin has not been made aware of any issues with the methodology or conclusions of these studies.”

In its release outlining its decision, DEM acknowledged that Terramin’s proposal satisfied relevant statutory obligations.

The company had done everything it should to satisfy technical matters in detail, however, the Minister for Energy and Mining, Tom Koutsantonis was obliged to consider other relevant considerations, including broader state interests such as potential socio-economic and amenity impacts and the effect on existing industries – including tourism – and the local community.

“While the proposed mine would have had a short-term life, the potential impact on surrounding businesses – including world-class wineries such as Petaluma and Bird In Hand – and associated regional tourism could have longer-term implications,” the DEM statement said.

“The Adelaide Hills region enjoys a well-earned clean, green reputation, and this must be safeguarded.”

Taking aim at the decision, Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) CEO Warren Pearce ignored these factors and instead slammed the decision as, “a major blow to the entire industry”.

“This decision is a massive setback for the hopes of growing the mining industry in South Australia and reinforces a widely held view that South Australia isn’t serious about developing new projects.

“It also has major implications for the hopes of South Australia to attract new major project investment.

“Industry and investors will now rightly question whether it is worthwhile investing in South Australia, and whether the South Australian Government actually want mining investment.

“It will now be much harder for South Australia to attract new mining and mineral exploration investment.”

The DEM reminded everybody of its role, explaining that developers across all industries in South Australia must submit proposals for community and government scrutiny.

This meant the Government was required to complete a rigorous assessment of Terramin’s application, taking into consideration its location, the complexity of the proposal, and importantly, environmental, and social factors.

In making such a decision the minister was required to deliberate on whether the prospective mine would fit within the existing character and/or amenity of the area and its existing social values.

“This is not a decision I’ve taken lightly or easily,” South Australia Energy and Mining Minister Tom Koutsantonis said.

“I appreciate Terramin’s cooperation in providing further detail about their proposed operation as requested.

“I’m also acutely aware of community concerns about the proposal, including from nearby wineries, residents and the local community.

“The area of the proposed mine is home to a world-class viticulture industry, producing some of Australia’s best-loved wines.

“Tourism to the region is a critical contributor to the local economy and, on balance, there remains a possibility this proposed short-term mine may adversely affect the established and significant long-term agricultural and tourism industries of the Woodside area immediately adjacent the project areas.

“As such, I am not willing to risk these established local industries against the opportunity this short-term mine may provide, and have decided it is in the state’s interest to decline the Mining Lease and Miscellaneous Purposes Licence applications by Terramin for its Bird in Hand Gold Project.”

Warren Pearce responded by indicating that Terramin had recognised the unique characteristics of the mine’s location and had worked hard to draft plans with the wineries involved to ensure multiple land use could be effectively balanced and sensitively managed.

“If the South Australian Government can’t manage to approve a modest gold mine after five years of extensive assessment, how can it be expected to manage and approve the development of much larger and more complex projects?” Pearce said.

First Mover. Those explorers who get in first and are the ones who take credit for finding and utilising the benefits of the regional geology and topography.

There have been many of these scattered throughout the land, particularly in Western Australia where mining thrives in the goldfields, the Pilbara, Murchison, and other mining centres.

Oddly enough, there hasn’t been too many mining applications submitted for mining of the Margaret River region of WA.

COMMODITY CAPERS: The Western Australian Government has decreed it will be introducing legislation to provide a framework for Western Australia’s climate response by formalises the State Government’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

In a media release, the McGowan Government said it intends this year to introduce climate change legislation to establish a framework for responsible emissions reductions to meet Western Australia’s goal of net zero by 2050.

The announcement didn’t go into any great detail, as you would probably expect from the first tidbit to be released, however it did supply a string of bullet points aimed to excite journalists, as follows.

“This legislation will also formalise our ambitious aim to reduce Government emissions by 80 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030.”

Exactly what “Government emissions” are has yet to be fully outlined, but no doubt these will become clearer closer to the time.

“It will provide a framework for the State’s climate change response and give industry, business and investors certainty and stability.”

“Certainty and Stability”, again, no great detail, but we have 27 years to gain some insight.

“The legislation will create statutory requirements for the State Government to set interim emission reduction targets and develop strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change.”

A nice way of saying that they have climate change and the effects thereof in mind, but at this stage they’re not overly sure of what they should be doing.

“It means WA will have clear and necessary policies to reduce emissions, helping to mobilise private sector capital for the net zero transition and enhance climate resilience.”

This will most likely make it easier for the Government of the time, whatever persuasion they may be, to rely on the private sector to lead the way.

“The legislation will ensure accountability and transparency requiring the Minister for Climate Action to report annually to Parliament on WA’s net emissions and progress towards reduction targets.”

“Accountability and transparency” need we say more?

“Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetime,” According to Reece Whitby the WA Minister for Environment; Climate Action; Racing and Gaming,

“We need to take decisive action this decade.

“This legislation will help accelerate our transition to net zero emissions in a responsible and achievable way.”

The climate winds don’t blow favourably for Western Australia at present with the it being the only state which has recorded an increase in emissions on 2005 levels.

The targets set by the legislation still lag the eastern states with NSW is targeting a 70 per cent reduction by 2035, and Victoria and South Australia hoping to achieve a 50 per cent cut over that period.

Fronting a phalanx of reporters, Whitby said WA was a state which has a lot of fossil fuel companies and a lot of mining companies.

“That means we have high emissions, so we’ve got a particular challenge in Western Australia.”

As vague as the Government’s ambitions are at this stage, they were still given a warm reception from environmentalists who thought they could have had a stronger bite at the cherry.

“A net-zero 2050 target is a good starting point but the key to this new legislation will be setting adequate five-yearly interim emissions targets,” the Conservation Council of WA’s Maggie Wood was reported to have said.

“We cannot allow for a model which permits unsustainable amounts of pollution right up until 2050, polluters must be compelled to make meaningful cuts to their emissions as quickly as possible if we are to avoid the worst extremes of climate change.”