THE Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire Council is to seek an extension of the objection period for the exploration tenement being sought by mining giant Bauxite Resources Ltd.

Council decided at its meeting on Thursday to get involved in the process as a stakeholder.

The application deadline is this Friday, March 5, but council wants it extended by two months. Should the extension not be granted the council will lodge an objection before the closing date.

Landholders were surprised to learn that the application included large areas of land regarded as lifestyle holdings and included locations earmarked for gravel pits in Kangaroo Gully and Carbunup Brook. The Polina Road proposal has been bitterly opposed by Kangaroo Gully residents and is the subject of an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal by the developers.

Cr Brad Williams, who moved the extension motion, said it was important council and ratepayers had the opportunity to consider the implications of bauxite mining.

“I found that Bridgetown is already ringed by exploration tenements pending for this firm, and the latest application is our opportunity to have a say in the future of mining in the lifestyle areas of our shire,” he said.

“The implications for the whole of the South West with a project of the planned size are very significant and I felt we needed to know more and have input at an early stage,” Cr Williams said.