The uptake of green technology, such as electric vehicles and wind turbines, is driving a push to source key materials here in Australia. But the potentially lucrative economic opportunity has also revived an old debate about the impact of mining in rich and plentiful farming lands.
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00:00South Australia's limestone coast is one of the state's agricultural powerhouses.
00:08But for Ken Turner, his mixed farming property has attracted the interest of mining companies
00:14hunting for rare earth elements.
00:16They believe there are viable quantities of mineral under the ground here.
00:22Mr Turner's property lies within a 20 square kilometre area earmarked for potential mining.
00:28The fledgling Kuppamurra project is part of a wave of development aimed at digging up
00:33the rare earth elements needed to build electric vehicles and wind turbines.
00:38We see a great opportunity for Australia to develop the rare earth industry.
00:44It's a potential to provide jobs and investment.
00:47Most of the world's rare earths come from China, but the push is on to develop a local
00:51industry to supply Australia's trading partners.
00:54So I see South Australia's role is actually being, potentially being that trusted, secure
01:00supply of these resources.
01:02The environmental credentials of the Kuppamurra project are still being assessed and any potential
01:07mining here is still several years away.
01:10But local producers are concerned about the potential impacts on this rich agricultural
01:15land.
01:16An opposition group chaired by farmer Todd Woodard is concerned about how any future
01:21mine here would be rehabilitated.
01:23Putting the macro-minerals back in there, the phosphorus and that sort of thing is one
01:27thing, putting the biology back in there is completely different.
01:31While Ken Turner shares some of the group's concerns, he's waiting for more information.
01:36We value our soils, we value our water, we value the environment we live in, so we will
01:42be looking very closely when they have a proposal.
01:46A critical issue for Australia's food and financial security.