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Mining entrepreneur Joseph Gutnick promises to support Tasmanian AFL team if lucrative mine goes ahead

Mining entrepreneur Joseph Gutnick is loving his new life in Tasmania. (ABC News: Monte Bovill)

He's well known as a mining entrepreneur, a Jewish rabbi and a former president of the AFL's Melbourne Football Club, but now Joseph Gutnick has set his sights on making a fortune in Tasmania.

And if his venture of establishing a mine in the state's north-west becomes a reality, he says he will financially support Tasmania's proposed AFL team.

Mr Gutnick is now living in the state's north-west.

"I had a friendly investor that made me aware of some opportunities and that's how I came here," he said.

"The place where I live, the people are very friendly and I don't get recognised as much as I have when I'm in Melbourne where everyone knows me.

"Here I walk the streets and I'm quite free and happy."

'Potentially worth billions': Mine plans for remote Tasmanian town

Joseph Gutnick says drilling at Moina has revealed a large fluorspar deposit. (ABC News: Monte Bovill)

Mr Gutnick is developing a number of projects, including a proposed fluorspar, tungsten, tin and magnetite mine at Moina in the state's north-west.

He says drilling has revealed a rich mineral and metal deposit. 

It has already shown a large deposit of fluorspar, which is used in batteries.

The increasing price for some minerals and metals in recent times has encouraged Mr Gutnick to take a closer look at the north-west site.

"It's potentially worth billions, it's a major deposit," he said.

If it goes ahead 600 people will be employed in the construction of the mine and 300 will be required to operate it.

He hopes to be processing in three years' time.

Joseph Gutnick believes his proposed mine at Moina in north-west Tasmania could be worth billions. (ABC News: Monte Bovill)

Tassie AFL team support

Since moving to Tasmania, Mr Gutnick has thrown his support behind a Tasmanian AFL side.

"I think it's a great idea," he said.

The former Melbourne AFL club president plans to throw his support behind a Tassie team. (ABC News: Monte Bovill)

"Since I'm going to be living here, I've got this football passion in my blood so I'd very much like to help Tassie.

"I'm not going to be a president again, the five years I spent with the Melbourne Football Club was enough for a number of lifetimes, but I'm certainly happy to support a club.

"Tasmania has given to me so I'll give back to football and of course, there are other things where I can help out."

The former Melbourne president contributed millions of dollars to the Demons and said the financial support he could provide for a Tasmanian team would be 'substantial'.

"Certainly a percentage of what I earn, I will give back to Tasmania," he said.

"It's a substantial project so I certainly would give something to football and something to many other causes and needs that Tasmania has."

Chequered past

Mr Gutnick has had a chequered and colourful career.

He was declared bankrupt in 2016, with debts of more than $275 million.

And he is facing an ongoing probe by ASIC into past company loans.

"The different accusations that are made against me … I will defend vigorously.

"I do believe that I've always acted in the best interest of shareholders, I always acted honestly as a director.

Mr Gutnick is also exploring a lithium and tin deposit at Avoca in the north-east and has a mining lease at Bell Mountain near Moina.

Chief executive of the Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council, Ray Mostogl, said the Moina location had a history of revealing minerals and metals that went back to the 19th century.

He said there were a number of reasons why there was renewed interest in the area and was not surprised it was being explored.

"With these commodities set to forecast to be increasing in demand on the back of the drive to decarbonise, demand exceeds supply, so prices should remain strong for many years," Mr Mostogl said.

"Secondly, exploration technology that we have today is so far more developed than what we had 20, 30 years ago, so ground previously listed as not having economic resources could now reveal a very different story in terms of potential for minerals.

"Tasmania has seen a doubling of exploration in the last 12 months ... this particular exploration example is just one of many that Tasmania is experiencing at the moment."

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