Premier Mike Rann and ministers have flown to Arkaroola today to announce the SA Government will change the Mining Act as an interim measure, then introduce specific legislation to ban any mining in the area.
Mr Rann says an application also will be made to put Arkaroola on the National Heritage list, with a longer-term aim of gaining World Heritage listing.
“We have decided to give the region unprecedented protection,” Mr Rann said.
“We could have settled for what the Greens wanted, which was simply a ban on mining, but I wasn’t satisfied that that would provide enough protection from all forms of incompatible development,” Mr Rann said.
“The Arkaroola wilderness area is a unique environment and as such we are giving it special, one-off, legislative protection.”
Read the full story on the ABC news website