Calls relating to miner MMG 's proposed new tailings storage for its Rosebery Mine were expected this week.

However, the federal government suspended timeframes for decisions on MMG's referral under environmental law and on the assessment approach to July 23.

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The Bob Brown Foundation continued to urge the company to drop the plan.

The company has spoken of alternative sites in recent weeks.

"The majority of Australians and the hundreds of people who have protested in the forests, rallied in Hobart and protesting daily outside (Environment) Minister (Sussan) Ley's office, including the 17 citizens who have been arrested, all consider this proposal and current destruction clearly unacceptable," Bob Brown Foundation campaign manager Jenny Weber said on Monday, the 21^st day of protest against the project.

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"Machines have been building a new road in takayna/Tarkine as MMG prepares to carry out geotechnical drilling.

"These intact forests that are immediately threatened are habitat for nationally listed species vulnerable to extinction including Tasmanian devils, quolls, giant wedge-tailed eagles and masked owls."

Hong Kong-listed MMG said it had agreed to extension of the referral decision on the site under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act while it continued to "complete engineering and environmental baselines and assessment to support a new tailings storage site".

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"To date, activity at South Marionoak has been limited to upgrading existing access roads built to support historic logging operations across much of the area now under investigation.

"Drilling and geotechnical sampling will take place over the coming weeks."

MMG said those activities would need ongoing site access, which was consistent with the conditions of existing approvals and the mining lease.

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"We respect the right to peaceful protest and for people to express their opinions," it said.

"However, our number one concern is that we maintain the safety of everyone on site, for workers and protesters alike.

"We implore protesters not to engage in unsafe and unlawful tactics that put workers and protesters at risk.

"Our priority is to find the safest and most balanced solution that secures the future of the 85-year-old Rosebery Mine and the future of 500 people and their families that it supports."

Protester Vera Graham, while attached to MMG machinery, said: "While we wait for the government to protect these old rainforests, we have no other choice than to stop the machines destroying takayna."

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