Tasmanian Liberal senator Jonathon Duniam has hit out at Labor MP for Lyons Brian Mitchell, after Mr Mitchell called on the Turnbull government to do more to help fund repairs to Beaconsfield Mine.
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Concerns were raised that a 35-metre sinkhole could open up at the iconic site, after heavy rains caused cracking in July.
“Brian Mitchell has been missing in action for the last three weeks since the urgent problems facing the Beaconsfield Mine Site were raised,” Senator Duniam said.
“Given the urgency of the situation I made immediate enquiries of three federal ministers of any funds that may be available. Additionally, with mayor Christina Holmdahl, I commenced discussions with the Tasmanian government which resulted in allowing works to commence immediately, while the disaster relief application was completed.”
Mr Mitchell said the federal Labor opposition was calling on the Commonwealth to immediately help fund the repair, by matching the state government’s commitment of more than $600,000.
“Engineers say $1.2 million is needed to make the site safe [and] the Tasmanian government has agreed to fund half the cost,” he said.
“The site’s ongoing closure is hurting tourism and businesses along the West Tamar.”
Mr Mitchell said he and opposition leader Bill Shorten stood “shoulder to shoulder” on working to re-open the centre to the public.
“We all know Beaconsfield is close to Bill’s heart and he has been asking me to keep him informed about the site’s closure and the steps required to re-open it,” he said.
But Senator Duniam said he was in daily contact with his colleagues to help procure a grant under the he National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangement.
“If Mr Mitchell was truly interested in wanting to assist in fixing this problem, he'd have been working with me and others for the past three weeks on finding funding,” he said.
West Tamar Council’s general manager Rolph Vos said discussions with mainland company Mancala, through Pitt and Sherry, were progressing to confirm how the repair would be undertaken and the costs involved.
“We are commencing to work with a local contractor to open the top of the shaft, to remove part of the structure which we think will commence next week.”