Mining in Tasmania: The road ahead
Grange Resources’ historic Savage River magnetite mine. Image: Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council. BY ELIZABETH FABRI LEFT behind during the mining boom while other State’s prospered, Tasmania is on its way back with a string of mine reopenings signalling renewed confidence for the sector. After battling tough, the Tasmanian mining sector is making a return. Unlike its mainland counterparts, Tasmania was hurt by a resources boom side-effect; the strong Australian dollar. With an economy heavily reliant on trade exposed industries, Tasmania felt the sting when the Australian dollar surpassed the US dollar in 2010/2011, and then when commodity prices tumbled. “The high Australian dollar (we all remember when it hit $1.10 U.S) was a drag on all export-exposed industries,” Tasmanian…