WPG Resources Ltd announced on 17 November that it has lodged the mining and rehabilitation program (MARP) for the development of the Company’s flagship DSO iron ore mine 90km south of Coober Pedy in South Australia. The MARP has been lodged with PIRSA, the mining regulator.

The MARP is a statutory document that sets out details of the construction, commissioning, operation and eventual rehabilitation of the mine. It relates to the Peculiar Knob mineral lease itself, the seven miscellaneous purposes licences that cover the haul road route and all necessary site infrastructure including the accommodation village, and the 20 extractive mineral leases necessary for the quarrying of road base for the construction of the haul road and hardstands.

The expected life of the Peculiar Knob mine on a stand-alone basis is 6 years, including short ramp-up and ramp-down periods. WPG anticipates that mining will commence next year, with sales to begin at the end of the year and build up to 3.3 million tonnes per annum of high grade fines over several months as rolling stock becomes available. 

The release by the Commonwealth on 5 November of an interim review of the Woomera Prohibited Area suggests that the Buzzard and Tui deposits at Hawks Nest 120km south of Coober pedy could be developed within proposed new guidelines, which would extend a combined DSO project’s life to more than 10 years.

Approval of the MARP, and of the development application for the construction of the Port Pirie ore storage facility, which was lodged on 5 November, are the last of the main approvals yet to be obtained before Peculiar Knob can be put into production.

Three caught with great white shark teeth

(ninemsn Nov 22)

Three people, including a professional fisherman, have been reported for illegally trading in great white shark teeth and jaws.

A commercial fisherman from Ardrossan, on South Australia 's Yorke Peninsula and a business couple from Coober Pedy , are expected to be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

Fisheries officials say it is alleged all three were involved in the possession and sale of great white shark teeth and jaws.

The reports follow an investigation which involved fisheries officers travelling to Coober Pedy where they seized one set of jaws and 22 teeth which had been capped in silver and made into necklaces for sale.

"It will be alleged that the commercial fisherman from Ardrossan supplied the jaws and teeth to the business for sale," fisheries regional operations manager Peter Dietman said in a statement on Monday.

"It's important to remind any retail outlets that it is an offence to sell, purchase, control or possess an aquatic resource of a protected species - such as great white sharks, and that includes body parts, teeth and jaws."

Maximum penalties include a $20,000 fine for each offence and the possible suspension of any fishing licence

Coober Pedy Police News

At about 9:18am on 11/11/2010 police were tasked to attend at the Umoona Health Care Centre in regards to a domestic disturbance where a female has been assaulted.  On arrival police located a male who had assaulted his partner and police located the victim nearby.  Police conveyed the victim to the hospital and police arrested the 32 year old male from COOBER PEDY for aggravated assault and breach of summary protection order.  Police refused bail on the male and he was transported to the Port Augusta Police Station.  The male will appear at the Port Augusta Magistrates Court at a later date to answer the charges. 

At about 9:00pm on 11/11/2010 Police were performing mobile driver testing duties when they stopped a 37 year old male from Indulkana Community in a vehicle and conducted an Alco test.  The Alco test returned a positive reading and the male was conveyed back to the COOBER PEDY Police Station for a Breath Analysis Test.  The male was later reported for driving PCA, Unregistered and driving disqualified. The male will appear at the Indulkana Magistrates Court at a later date to answer the charges.

During the above vehicle stop police were confronted by a 30 year old female from COOBER PEDY and a 36 year old female from Amata Community who were very intoxicated.  Both females were acting in a disorderly manner and were interrupting police in their dealings with the above 37 year old male from Indulkana community.  Police subsequently arrested the two females for disorderly behaviour and conveyed them to the COOBER PEDY Police Station.  Both females will appear in a court at a later date to answer the charges.

At about 2:15am on 12/11/2010 , police were tasked to a Wilcox Street address in regards to a disturbance.  On arrival police were met by a female victim who stated her ex partner entered her house with out her permission and assaulted her physically and indecently.  Further alleged that her ex partner threatened to kill her.

Police moved the victim to a safe location and looked for the 40 year old male from COOBER PEDY who was the offender.  Police eventually located the male and arrested him for Aggravated Serious Criminal Trespass, Aggravated Assault, Indecent Assault and Aggravated Threats to Kill.  The male was refused police bail and was conveyed to the Port Augusta Police Station.  The male will appear in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court at a later date to answer the charges.

Psalm 140 vs 1 and 2 (Good News Bible):

"Save me, Lord, from evil men; keep me safe from violent men. They are always plotting evil, always stirring up quarrels.."

Church Meeting Times

Catacomb (Anglican) Sunday 9.30 am. Catholic Saturday 6.30 pm Sunday 10 am. Coober Pedy Revival Fellowship Sunday 10.15 am, 7 pm; Wed. 7.30 pm. Coober Pedy Brethren Sunday 10 am. Coober Pedy Christian Home Church Sunday 3 pm; Ph 0417 814 559, 0408 890 280. Coober Pedy Community Church - Assembly of God, Paxton Rd Sunday 10 am Wed 7 pm Friday Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm

Vision Radio Network Coober Pedy 87.6 FM