Annual report on CL 4 Finniss River Peat from 1985 to 1986

Abstract

The main objective of the work program for this year was the obtaining of a bulk sample for research purposes.These include; a) To establish the commercial viability of producing a good quality peat product for the local market. b) To establish a practical extraction method. c) To prove the viability or otherwise of the extraction method and subsequant transportation to Darwin, and d) To examine the environmental impact of the extraction process. These purposes were deemed to be important enough to warrent the expense of the removal of a bulk sample. This was because, unlike the usual commodities associated with the mining industry ie. gold, tin, silver, etc, this was a commodity that needed to be sold directly to the public and not a marketing organisation and so had no guarenteed market. To this end permission to remove a bulk sample was applied for and received and the operation was undertaken in two stages. In the first stage a sample of 725m3 was removed and transported to Darwin. In the second stage a sample of size 629m3 was removed. As can be seen from the figures on the previous page the rates for the two stages were quite different, this was due to two different contractors being engaged for the loading and transport in the stages. The first stage loading and transport was by NAH whilst the second stage was done by Ceccon. The excavation in both cases was done by a small local company using two bobcats. In order to get this operation done as cheaply to me as possible I decided to allow Tropigro, a Darwin based gardening products wholesaler to remove the bulk sample to allow them to see the quality and quantity available as well as to carry the financial burden on something I could not afford to do at the time. This was also good for me as they are the largest gardening suppliers in Darwin and the only ones who manufacture their own brand here. As can be seen from the above expenditure the amount spent on the licence considerably exceeds the covenant placed in the licence application.