Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has today approved the single biggest land clearing project in Cape York’s history, in approving Rio Tinto’s South of Embley massive bauxite mine, the Wilderness Society said today. The approval also exposes the Great Barrier Reef to increased shipping threat.
The mine will wipe out 30,000 hectares of a landscape that a Federal Government-commissioned scientific report has only recently identified as being of World Heritage standard, land that can never be fully rehabilitated.
“Minister Burke has today given the green light to landscape destruction, land only just formally recognised for its World Heritage-standard values”, said Dr Tim Seelig, Queensland Campaign Manager for the Wilderness Society.
“This mine will result in environmental vandalism on a grand scale.”
In relation to bauxite landscapes on Western Cape York, the recent Scientific Report refers to the “outstanding geological phenomenon forms the foundation for unique hydro-ecological processes that have enabled and supported a variety of unique biological expressions including tall woodland which is a unique, structurally and floristically distinctive, regional ecosystem.” (p. 29)
The Wilderness Society has also drawn attention to deficiencies in the Federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, where newly discovered species in the proposed mine area did not have to be considered in the approval processes because their discovery came after Rio Tinto’s original application. Species of crab, shrimp, and sea snake – all new to science – have been found in the area to be mined, and will now be threatened.
The new Rio Tinto mine will also result in 900 shipping movements through the reef, which UNESCO has already said is at great risk from new development and increased shipping. Rio was forced to resubmits its EIS to address reef impacts and come clean on the 900 shipping movements through the Great Barrier Reef.
“Just weeks after UNESCO renewed its call on the federal and Queensland governments not to place further pressure on this fragile and stressed ecosystem, Minister Burke has done just that”, said Dr Seelig.
“Approval of this mine places further risks to one existing World Heritage Area and allows the complete destruction of part of Cape York eligible to be included in a new World Heritage Area under consideration right now.”
“Mr Burke seems to taken the word of a company that just last year was exposed for having misled him in its original Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) by saying that the project would not have any effect on the reef.
“This is just another example of recognised world heritage values being trashed for the sake of a mining boom already coming to the end, and for profits that will largely find their way offshore.”
However, the South of Embley project still doesn’t have final approval because the Queensland Land Court has yet to approve a new Environmental Authority. An action lodged by the Wilderness Society late last year objecting to the Queensland Government’s environmental approvals for the project has yet to be determined by the Court.
“Rio will not be able to start any major works on this project until it has received the OK from the Queensland Land Court, and investors need to realise the project faces fierce and ongoing opposition. The battle over this mine is far from over”, added Lyndon Schneiders, National Campaign Director of the Wilderness Society.
More information:
Dr Tim Seelig, Queensland Campaign Manager: 0439 201 183
Mr Lyndon Schneiders, National Campaign Director: 0451 633 200
]]>The Federal Government must refuse any further developments that threaten the Great Barrier Reefarea if it is serious about protecting the reef as well as the $6 billion tourism industry and 63,000jobs it supports.
“The latest UNESCO report on the reef says the reef is still at risk of being listed ‘in danger’, soFederal Environment Minister Tony Burke must knock back the South of Embley bauxite mineand Wongai coal mine if he is serious about protecting our greatest environmental asset,” saidWilderness Society Northern Australia Campaign Manager Gavan McFadzean.
“Rio Tinto’s South of Embley bauxite mine will require 900 shipping movements through the GreatBarrier Reef between the Weipa mine and the refinery at Gladstone, according to its recentlyreleased Environmental Impact Statement to the Federal Government.
“Balkanu Corporation’s Wongai coal mine would require building Australia’s biggest east coast portnorth of Cairns, and super tankers would have to navigate the small gaps in the most pristine part ofthe Great Barrier Reef.
“These proposed mines also threaten Cape York’s natural assets that scientists recently said wereworthy for an upcoming World Heritage nomination.
“Even Cape York’s bauxite landscapes and the magnificent forests they support likely meet WorldHeritage criteria, so Rio’s South of Embley project should be taken off the books for good.”
Further comment: Wilderness Society Northern Australia Campaign Manager, Gavan McFadzean (0414 754 023)
More information: Wilderness Society Media Adviser, Alex Tibbitts (0416 420 168)
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Media release: 24 April 2013
Australian and Queensland governments must cooperate to deliver World Heritage nomination with Traditional Owner consent by July
The Wilderness Society today called on the Australian Government to deliver on its promise to nominate Cape York for World Heritage listing with Traditional owner consent, following the release of a new report confirming Cape York Peninsula’s natural values meet the World Heritage criteria.
Wilderness Society Northern Australia Campaigner Gavan McFadzean said: “Traditional Owners are indicating their consent and now some of Australia’s leading scientists have confirmed that Cape York Peninsula contains widespread natural values of World Heritage standard.
“This report puts a clear responsibility at the foot of the Gillard and Newman governments to nominate all areas of Cape York Peninsula where Traditional Owners consent by July, and for whoever wins the upcoming federal election to take the nomination forward to listing.”
The report, “The natural attributes for World Heritage nomination of Cape York Peninsula”, was commissioned by the Commonwealth government to assess the natural values of Cape York against World Heritage criteria. They have found that Cape York contains universal values of international significance and that these values are widespread across the Cape.
The scientists grouped the natural values of Cape York Peninsula into seven key attributes including tropical savanna, rainforest, bauxite ecosystems, freshwater biodiversity and dune systems. It concludes that Cape York contains some of the best examples of these ecosystems on the planet.
The report was released to Traditional Owner groups who are assessing cultural values against the World Heritage criteria and considering whether to consent to a World Heritage nomination.
The report also refers to the significant, short term, destructive threats to Cape York, including mining and land clearing.
“This report sends a clear message to the Queensland government not to approve and fast track destructive mining developments over areas now known to be of international conservation significance,” Mr McFadzean said. “This is especially the case given the decision by the Queensland Government to wind back existing protections such as wild rivers and land clearing laws.
“The report highlights that investing in destructive mining projects on Cape York is a risky investment decision which will attract significant opposition both nationally and internationally.”
Wilderness Society Northern Australia Campaign Manager Gavan McFadzean on 0414 754 023
For more information or to interview report author Professor Peter Valentine or Cape York Traditional Owners, contact Wilderness Society media adviser Alex Tibbitts on 0416 420 168
Media release: 23 April 2013
The Wilderness Society has described the next stage of Newman Government planning for Cape York Peninsula as a sham, saying it is all about ignoring the region’s world class environments and instead fast-tracking mining and destructive development.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney has today convened just the second meeting of a Committee supposed to be overseeing the planning process, one which has excluded some key environmental and Traditional Owner representatives. At the meeting, an issues paper was tabled which contains scant recognition of the ecological and cultural values of Cape York Peninsula, and sparse details on what the government plans to do on the region.
“The Issues Paper presented to the Committee is a joke”, said Dr Tim Seelig, Queensland Campaign Manager for the Wilderness Society. “This is supposed to be the culmination of several months’ work on documenting the natural and cultural values of Cape York, detailing what the government intends to replace Wild River Declarations with, and how it will move forwards on its Statutory Plan for the region.
“Instead, the Issues Paper ignores key processes such as a World Heritage nomination, and provides very generalized and extremely brief descriptions of some issues, leaving Deputy Premier Seeney with maximum scope to push forwards on his mining and damaging development agenda.
“Mr Seeney know what he wants to do on Cape York, and this will be very bad news for the region’s fragile and globally significant ecosystems, for its cultural heritage, and for local communities who will be sucked into supporting destructive mining rather than long term, sustainable enterprises.
“Cape York’s strongest competitive advantages are its natural and cultural values. Protecting these environments, creating jobs and economic opportunities based around promoting and showcasing those environments, and building long term prosperity without destroying the region’s landscapes, rivers and coastlines is the best pathway for local communities.”
The Wilderness Society has predicted that by mid-year, the Newman Government plans to commence the revocation of essential Wild River declarations on Cape York, including the Wenlock River, sparking renewed national and international campaigns to protect the river, the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve, and associated landscapes and ecological systems.
Contact: Dr Tim Seelig, Queensland Campaign Manager: 0439 201 183