The South Australian Government has welcomed the unlocking of the Woomera Protected Area (WPA) after the Federal Government lifted the initial moratorium phase, seeing it replaced with a standardised Deed of Access.

 

Premier Jay Weatherill said the move means that mining companies can now begin drilling, potentially unlocking billions of dollars for the state’s mining sector.

 

“Mining companies have been waiting for the opportunity to access this area for years and this deed of agreement will finally allow them to move their drills in and begin searching for the minerals we know are there,” Mr Weatherill said.

 

The WPA area, which is around the size of England, is estimated to hold more than $35 billion in mineral wealth and is believed to hold more than 80 per cent of the nation’s uranium deposits and 60 per cent of its copper deposits.

 

State Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Tom Koutsantonis said the State Government is strategically investing $2m for PACE mapping of the area to help fast track exploration through world-class pre-competitive data.