A Chinese Government-owned mining company has made an audacious bid to explore for gold and other precious minerals across vast parts of Perth's eastern suburbs.
In documents submitted to the WA Department of Mines and Petroleum, HD Mining and Investment has applied for a mineral exploration licence over about 150sqkm of the metropolitan area.
Among the areas covered by the application are virtually all of Perth Airport, parts of the Swan River, more than a dozen suburbs including Ascot, Kalamunda and Lesmurdie and two national parks.
The brazen application was lodged at the beginning of last month by the Waterford-based explorer, which is a subsidiary of Chinese Government-controlled Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.
Taking its title from the wealthy province of the same name on China's east coast, Shandong also bankrolls Perth-based junior mining company Bauxite Resources, which has a contentious mining proposal at Bindoon north of Perth.
The mining exploration industry said HD Mining's move appeared to be unprecedented. Mines Minister Norman Moore warned the firm to expect the most stringent level of assessment a project could face.
"Anyone can apply for a mining exploration licence but whether they get it or not is another thing," Mr Moore said. He moved to allay concerns from households and businesses, saying a miner would need their consent before being allowed to explore on their land
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