South Australian farmers protest $30m mining project

Nearly 1000 farmers from across South Australia have rallied at the steps of state parliament against plans to develop one of Australia’s biggest open cut and underground mines.

The state government granted Rex Minerals a 15 year lease over Hillside Mine, near Ardossan on the Yorke Peninsula.

It is expected to pump $30 million a year into the state economy.

At a protest in Adelaide today, farmers told 9NEWS they were worried about pollution and that radioactive dust from the mine could spread over their crops.

Farmers fear thousands of hectares of grain-growing farming land will be taken out of production as a result.

If the mining company accepts the lease, they will have to meet almost 100 conditions.

Seven hundred jobs will be created during the construction phase.