and does onesteel need apg?, page-7

But Geiger, Maaaate


this looks like a real goer!!!!


http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25929953-952,00.html

North Stradbroke Island eaten away by sand mining By Greg Stolz
August 15, 2009 12:00am

LARGE parts of eco-sensitive North Stradbroke Island are resembling a barren moonscape after a tripling of land clearing for sand mining.

The State Government is so concerned it is threatening to prosecute resources giant Consolidated Rutile Ltd.

Residents of the popular holiday playground claim ancient dune systems are being destroyed and left as "one big filthy mound", flora and fauna are being wiped out, freshwater resources put at risk and dust and visual pollution are increasing as CRL allegedly pushes the boundaries of its mining operations.

Vote: Do you support sand mining on North Stradbroke?
About 50 million tonnes of sand are mined from the island each year to produce 500,000 tonnes of minerals.

Brisbane property valuer and keen pilot John Kendall said he was shocked at the scale of the mining during recent flights over "Straddie".

"They've absolutely chopped into the place – it's quite radical and shocking," he said.

"I've been flying over the island for a long time and have never seen it like this before. It's an absolute blight on the landscape and really concerning – I think they've crossed the line."

Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones told The Courier-Mail yesterday that CRL had been issued with "show cause" notices following "detailed investigations" into mining activities on North Stradbroke by the the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

"Our investigations could lead to potential legal action," she said. "As such, it is not appropriate to comment further because of the potential to jeopardise potential litigation."

Sand mining has been carried out on North Stradbroke Island since the 1950s but long-time resident and environmental campaigner Jennie Truman said locals had "huge concerns" with current operations.

She said open areas (land cleared for mining) had increased from 230ha to more than 600ha over the past decade, despite the number of mines falling from five to two.

Ms Truman, who has lived on Straddie for more than 25 years and is vice-president of watchdog group the Stradbroke Island Management Organisation, said the size and scale of the open area was "ridiculous"

"At the moment, there's more than 600ha of open area which is the biggest it's been in a very long time," she said.

"Seventy per cent of the island is covered by mining leases so you don't know what is happening here unless you fly over it. It's a case of out of sight, out of mind."

Last year, Redlands Shire Council angered CRL by rejecting the company's bid to sell up to 500,000 tonnes a year of Straddie waste sand to the construction industry, because of environmental and traffic concerns.

Ms Truman said the Enterprise mine on the southern part of the island was the deepest mine "ever", with a 100m high face.

"It's going right down into the top of the aquifer and straight through the middle of ancient dune systems, destroying the whole lot," she said.

"CRL isn't putting landscaping back to mimic the ancient dune system . . . it's just one big filthy mound. The sand is blowing away in the wind."

Residents used to hold reasonable talks with CRL but relations had deteriorated since Belgian-owned Unimin Australia took over the company recently, Ms Truman said.

"CRL used to report figures for the size of open areas but not any more – stakeholders are kept in the dark," she said.

"They hold Environmental Working Group meetings three or four times a year but basically tell us what they want to tell us."

Ms Jones said CRL, like all mining companies, was required to carry out extensive rehabilitation and its activities were regularly monitored.

She said the Government was considering converting mining land on North Stradbroke to National Park in the future in consultation with traditional owners and the mining industry.


RUINOUS: Locals are dismayed at how mining is ravaging North Stradbroke Island. Pic: Adam Head