Stradbroke Island sand mine extension is reckless

Media release from ACF

The Queensland Government is being reckless by announcing it will allow the extension of sand mining on Stradbroke Island when current mining does not even have proper environmental approval, the Australian Conservation Foundation said today.

The massive Enterprise sand mine, which is destroying sensitive sand dunes within metres of an internationally significant Ramsar-listed wetland,  does not have federal approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

“The last thing the Newman government should be doing is extending the Enterprise sand mine while the federal environment department is currently investigating the lack of approval or any formal exemption for the current mine under the EPBC Act,” said ACF healthy ecosystems campaigner Jess Abrahams.

“Today’s irresponsible move to extend mining on Stradbroke Island for a further two decades amply illustrates why environmental approval powers should not be handed to the states; they can’t be trusted to make decisions that look after the national interest.

“The state Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Andrew Cripps, says an extension of mining will not occur within environmentally sensitive areas, yet much of the island, which is the world’s second largest sand island and is home to a number of threatened and endangered species, is environmentally sensitive and significant.

“Minister Cripps also claims mining will not impact the Quandamooka people’s Indigenous Land Use Agreement, but any extension of mining leases requires a further suppression of the Quandamooka people’s native title rights and interests. The Quandamooka people must be properly consulted and given the opportunity to give or withhold their consent before this occurs.

“Federal and state governments should not extend or expand the Enterprise sand mine’s operations – and federal approval powers should not be handed over to this reckless government,” Mr Abrahams said.