An article in the West Australian pique my interest, that stated:

“A string of forfeiture applications filed over its [Central Norseman Gold Corporation] core mining leases is threatening to hold up the sale of the Central Norseman gold mine.

“Central Norseman Gold Corporation is backed by Sydney-based rich-lister Kevin Maloney and his private investment group Tulla Resources, which provided the funding to pay staff and administration costs when the then-listed Norseman Gold ran into trouble five years ago”.

A quick investigation with “LandTracker” a tenement management system, revealed that St Clair Resources Pty Ltd lodged 48 forfeiture applications against 48 of the 323 of the CNGC’s tenements. The directors of St Clair
Resources are Greg Howlett, George Francis Lee, Dennis Mifsud and secretary Anthony D’Agostino.

Considering that the average expenditure on each of the tenements was 110% of the statutory commitment and some even double that amount, the likelihood of success is limited.

This raises the philosophical question of whether the process of “Plainting” is being abused and not being used for its original intention as figurative persuader to make tenure holders meet their commitment and thus promote the States development.

Delaying the sale process has the reverse effect which will impede development in the State by preventing the prospective purchaser assuming management of the project and developing the Norseman Gold mine. Also, while a tenement is under ‘Plaint’ the owner is not required to meet the commitment so possibly no money is being spent on the tenements.

According to the West Australian article the Minister was prepared to put up with this state of affairs and not amend the Mining Act to disallow these frivolous “plaints” that are contrary to the intention of the Mining Act.