In May this year the company applied for 15 licences to explore for gold over an area of 4000 square kilometres from the Hunter, North West Slopes and New England.

One of the licences, ELA4269 covered the Karuah River catchment in the Monkerai Valley.

In response the Karuah River Protection Group was formed, and a community meeting at Monkerai attracted more than 90 people, unanimously passing a resolution to oppose the gold exploration application.

Local landholders followed up the meeting with a letter writing campaign to the company, the Premier, the Minister for Environment and Resources, local MPs and mayors and a contingent also meet with department officials.

The Karuah River Protection Group also collected information about threatened species and the Environmental Defenders Office visited the valley to advise landholders on their legal rights and strategies to oppose mining.

On Friday, October 21, the Karuah River Protection Group were advised by the chairman of Gold of Ophirs Paul Chapman that the company would withdraw the mining lease.

On Monday of last week the NSW Department of Mining confirmed that the lease application ELA 4269 had been withdrawn.

The majority of Gold of Ophirs exploration licences remain on the books.

Karuah River Protection Group spokesperson Di Johnston said the company’s decision was a “massive win” for the community.

“At times it felt like a David and Goliath battle but this shows that there is hope in rural communities standing up to mining companies.

“It means the pristine ecosystem in the Karuah catchment and our prime food-producing land will be safe from gold-mining.

“We all feel a massive sense of relief. The value of tourism, agriculture and fisheries is worth far more than gold to our community.”