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A resources company says it will look to build a bauxite mine on land preserved in honour of environmental campaigner Steve Irwin if Queensland's Wild Rivers laws are changed.
The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve, a part of the Wenlock River basin on the Cape York Peninsula, was established with federal government assistance in 2006.
The Wilderness Society wild rivers campaigner Glenn Walker said the Wenlock River should remain a protected area. "The Wenlock River of Cape York is one of Australia's most pristine and spectacular river systems," Mr Walker said.

HARD-WON protection for fragile river red gums in southern NSW could be lost, after the government and the Shooters and Fishers Party launched an inquiry into national parks, environment groups have warned.
The Wilderness Society received an assurance from the Environment Minister, Robyn Parker, in February that the government ''will not reverse river red gum legislation'' but said yesterday it was dismayed by the inquiry. ''We urge [Ms Parker] to stand by this promise or stand down as the state's advocate for the environment,'' the organisation's NSW campaigns manager, Belinda Fairbrother, said.

THE Wilderness Society will not change its opposition to Gunns' Tamar Valley pulp mill even though industry sees it as a key outcome of Tasmania's forestry peace agreement.
Wilderness Society spokesman Vica Bayley said opposition to the $2.3 billion project was "mainstream'' and "widespread and well-founded'', contrary to the belief of the state's major political parties.

BAUXITE miner Cape Alumina is preparing to mine the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve on Cape York after pre-poll promises by Queensland Premier Campbell Newman that he would repeal Wild Rivers legislation.
Wilderness Society spokesman Glenn Walker said yesterday the company was moving to kick-start mining prospects in the remarkable Wenlock River area on Cape York. "The Wilderness Society is aware that the company last week listed an investor presentation on the ASX website noting that the new Queensland LNP Government would soon repeal the Wild River declaration for the Wenlock River," Mr Walker said.

A CAPE York coalmining project backed by local indigenous leaders has been fast-tracked for assessment by the new Liberal National Party government.
The state government has granted "significant project status" to the $500 million Wongai project, which plans to extract coking coal from a proposed underground mine 320km north of Cairns -- within 1km of the Cape Melville National Park. Environmentalists are furious at the upgrade, labelling it the "thin edge of the wedge" to allow more development on the Cape and a payoff for political support.

The Wilderness Society is confident that a forest peace deal deadline can be met, despite one of the parties withdrawing from the talks. The Forest Industries Association was not at the meeting and is refusing to return to the negotiating table until environmentalists stop their overseas campaigns.
But Vica Bayley from the Wilderness Society is confident the parties will be ready in time for the State Government's June 30 deadline to draw up legislation for the deal.

The biggest humpback whale calving area in the southern hemisphere will be protected within a new marine park to be created on the Kimberley coast by the West Australian government.
Conservation groups have welcomed the creation of the nearly 7000 sq km Camden Sound Marine Park, about 300km northeast of Broome, to be co-managed by traditional owners.
Wilderness Society marine campaigner Jenita Enevoldsen said the park was recognition that the region's future lay in protecting its unique natural and cultural values, not in pursuing destructive industrial projects such Woodside Petroleum's proposed gas precinct 60km north of Broome.

COMMERCIAL fishing will be phased out and recreational fishers required to release their catch in a new Kimberley marine park announced by the State Government. The new marine sanctuary, known as Camden Sound, will cover 7000sq m of coastline about 300km north-east of Broome.
Wilderness Society marine campaigner Jenita Enevoldsen said the conservation group welcomed the announcement as the Kimberley marine environment was one of the natural wonders of the world.

THE final plan to save the Murray-Darling Basin is unlikely to go before Federal Parliament until the end of the year. SA, along with the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Wilderness Society, want at least 4000 billion litres returned. The foundation and SA have also called for further modelling on returning higher volumes of water to the system.

MINING giant Santos has defended its decision to transfer 60 megalitres of saline coal seam gas water from its Pilliga ponds, saying it is part of an ongoing $20 million upgrade of the sites in the forest.
Last week, the Northern Inland Council for the Environment and the Wilderness Society Newcastle said the plans proved that the coal seam gas industry could not manage the toxic waste it produced.