Proto Resources has announced that it is considering plans to mine for nickel near the northern Tasmanian town of Beaconsfield. Conservationists have labelled a proposed nickel mine in northern Tasmania a nightmare project. Mr Peter McGlone from the Tasmanian Conservation Trust said that the proposal would wipe out a critically endangered flowering shrub, tetratheca gunnii or shy susan. Mr McGlone has written to the Federal Government, urging it to reject the project. The proposal is open for comment until 15 January 2010, when the environmental assessment by the Tasmanian Government begins.