To a question “I will not support a potential future mine in general regardless of what the company says or does”, 56 per cent – the survey’s largest response – said “not at all”.

The company said the double-negative response was “actually positive” for Chalice.

It said mixing positive and negative statements in surveys was a “tried and tested” approach to limit bias and the response was “good/ positive” for Chalice.

The company said it was consistent with responses to another question which showed that 58 per cent of people were “moderately to extremely” supportive of mining on Chalice-owned private farmland south of Julimar Road.

“We are encouraged that 61 per cent of respondents have moderate to extremely high levels of trust in Chalice,” the company said.

“This compares favourably with the level of trust in Federal and State Governments and is typical of the level of trust respondents have for the mining industry generally”.

The company’s “Local Voices” survey of 283 local residents in April offered a $10 donation to local community groups for every response it received.

Chalice said it generated $2476 in community donations after some people chose to opt out of the donor offer.

The miner says it has donated a total of $250,000 in two years to local community events such as the Moondyne Festival, Toodyay Show, International Food Fair and Christmas Street Party as well as to local volunteer fire brigades, the Country Women’s Association, Marsupial Mammas and Pappas Wildlife, miniature railway, Toodyay Recreation Centre and sports clubs.

It provided a further $4.73 million to Chalice contractors and “the local economy”.

A recent statement to the Australian Stock Exchange valued the company at $2.5 billion, with $145 million in cash reserves.

Chalice announced a 50 per cent increase in the size of its “world class” Julimar deposit in March and a “strong option” to build a kilometre-wide pit to extract three million tonnes of ore on private land bounded by Keating Road, Plunkett Road, Beach Road and Julimar Road.

The company also announced “enormous growth potential” in a much larger area being drilled in Julimar State Forest, which is a State-registered conservation park.

“The need to decarbonise the global economy will underpin long-term demand for the green metals at Julimar,” the company told an investor forum in June.

Chalice said earlier that it was seeking new partners to mine and process millions of tonnes of Julimar ore in future decades.

Last month’s community survey results showed that only a quarter of respondents knew “much” or a “great deal” about Chalice’s current exploration activities.

A third said they had “some” knowledge, and 41 per cent said they had “none” or only “a little” knowledge of it.

A total of 81 per cent of people surveyed said the environment was “very” or “extremely” important.

Chalice Mining CEO Alex Dorsch said community consultation was integral to his company’s approach.

“We are committed to being open and transparent with the local community at all times,” he said.

“We are encouraged by the fact that the majority of respondents to our initial community survey support the potential development of a mine at Gonneville, which is located on Chalice-owned farmland, given the significant benefits this would generate for local communities and the State.

“We will continue to broaden and improve our consultation with the community as we progress our project.”

Russia’s withdrawal last month from the so-called ‘Black Sea grain corridor’ for grain shipments and subsequent deliberate missile attacks on Ukranian ports and grain storage facilities have caused market uncertainty and grave international concern about global food security.

The grain corridor was brokered by the United Nations to allow safe passage of Ukranian and Russian grain shipments from Black Sea ports to the rest of the world.

The deal had lasted more than a year despite complaints by Russian President Vladimir Putin that it had not met Russia’s needs.

When he refused last month to extend the deal and then proceeded to attack the major Ukranian port of Odessa, grain futures markets shot up in response.

Russia doubled down shortly after by declaring that any merchant grain ship could be considered to be carrying military equipment or arms.

Russia also launched missile attacks on inland grain facilities near the Danube River in the western part of Ukraine.

Its deliberate targeting of Ukranian grain exports has drawn UN criticism, the spike in grain prices and threat to supply have caused grave international concern over food security in developing countries.

Ukranian and Russian wheat – commonly called ‘Black Sea grain’ – is generally the world’s cheapest grain.

Unfortunately, spikes in grain prices and supply problems have a real impact on some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

Australian grain prices have risen as a result.

Wheat and canola prices have risen by about 10-15 per cent in a short period, boosting confidence among local farmers for another good season.

Any settling of Ukrainian war supply issues would remove the current market risk, which would most likely see grain prices fall to more average levels.

The prosecution describes Boyagerring Brook and the Avon River generally as the home of the Wagyl, a spiritual being in the form of a serpent that represents a core belief in traditional Avon Valley Noongar culture.

Mr Maddox says he did not know that Boyagerring Brook is protected by a 50-year-old Aboriginal heritage law when he built the vehicle crossing and an artificial lake.

He has instructed his Northam solicitor to brief a barrister to defend the charge.

Senior barristers can charge up to $10,000 a day, while junior barristers’ costs can start at about $5000 a day.

The case against Mr Maddox is separate to new WA Aboriginal Cultural Heritage laws from July 1 which prompted mass protests by angry farmers in Northam and elsewhere.

The WA Pastoralists and Graziers Association says it is awaiting legal advice on a potential High Court challenge.

The association says the Maddox case could help a long-running battle against State control over farmers’ property rights.

Association Property Rights Committee Chair Gary Peacock said it was a “long shot” but a member had offered to pay for a barrister’s opinion on whether Aboriginal heritage law had power over private land.

“We have great empathy for Tony and passionately support his case,” Mr Peacock said.

“We support him morally.”

Mr Maddox said he would pay for his own barrister when his case goes to trial and was told it may cost him $200,000 in legal fees.

Northam lawyer Bernadine Heiderich told last month’s hearing that nine defence witnesses would be called and that the Perth court may need to set aside four days for a trial.

The prosecution said via video link from Perth that the State had four witnesses and had anticipated a two-day trial.

Magistrate Webb said she might continue to hear the case in Perth because, as Ms Heiderich explained later to The Herald, the magistrate was transferring to the city court.

“You may not have seen the last of me,” Ms Webb told Mr Maddox as he left the court.
The trial is expected to start in December or early next year.

They agreed to store the materials and liaise with the Toodyay Agricultural Society about what to do next year.

The shire has placed a padlock on the door and locked the society out of the building.

Cr Steve McCormick voted against the council decision, saying the bar could still be used this year and demolished afterwards.

He was required earlier to declare an “impartiality interest” in the debate because he is a member of the Toodyay Agricultural Society and Toodyay Cricket Club, which operates the Show bar (pictured right with [from left], Steele, John Lucas and Skye O’Brien) each year.

“As a consequence, there may be a perception that my impartiality on the matter may be affected,” he said, reading from a signed statement filed with the shire.

“I will therefore declare that I will consider the matter on its merits and vote accordingly.”
He questioned whether the shire had obtained a “properly credentialled” report on the bar’s condition.

The council was told that a “specialised company” was asked in May to examine structural defects.

It reported “rotted and termite-damaged uprights, tie-downs and rafter integrity, as well as bearer failure”.

The shire then contacted five builders, resulting in a $30,000 repair quote and a recommendation to demolish the building.

Society President Bruce Shenn emailed the shire on July 21 that there was not enough time to repair the bar before this year’s Show.

He told councillors that he believed the bar was safe to use this year but that a marquee could be used instead.

“It would, of course take away from the ambience of the area,” Mr Shenn said.

He told The Herald later that a temporary bar would be provided for this year’s event.

The shire said removing the Show bar would leave a concrete base for a marquee.