Bratt, a very good question which serves food for thought indeed.

The consultation process has failed, and Cliffs are faced with a much longer process.

The seeds of strife and political positioning we see occuring with the process of approval for the proposed development of the Chromite deposit were sewn long ago with the first blockade up there. That blockade set the wheels in motion for conflict, what we are witnessing now is merely a continuation of frustration of the people with the tact the gov bodies take with large dollar developments across this country, all too often the tact is myopic in nature from the Ministers on down.

For some time now Moonias and others have been very vocal, and Cliffs have known (should have) that development approval was rushing towards becoming a political quagmire which will serve only one purpose.....delay, delay, delay the development. IMO Cliffs had the duty of being a good neighbor and could've and should've got in the face of the "People" up front from the get go, what part of the pictures of Band members standing tall on Koper lake did they not understand? They should have taken it upon themselves to begin the process, however with big business the shortest route to development is always taken first until the envirobugs erupt, which they have.

And now its a much different quagmire, one sure to drag on for many many months.

While i remain positive with NOT's future, what transpires going forward with Cliffs development is an indicator of things to come.