Rio Tinto putting Cape York rivers protection at risk

The Wilderness Society (Queensland) Inc
Media Release
22 August 2009

The Wilderness Society (Qld) today slammed mining giant Rio Tinto Alcan for failing to commit to fully protect the spectacular Wenlock River on Cape York Peninsula, which is currently under consideration for gazettal under Queensland’s Wild Rivers Act 2005.

Rio Tinto Alcan’s submission into the proposed Wenlock Wild River declaration, obtained by the Wilderness Society under Queensland’s new Right to Information Act, shows that the corporation is quietly seeking to maintain its “open slather” water rights, granted for its bauxite mining leases 50 years ago.

Glenn Walker, Wild Rivers Campaigner for the Wilderness Society said: “Currently Rio Tinto operates on Cape York under archaic legislation from the 1950s and 1960s, which grants the company a staggering 80% of the water from the Wenlock River, and allows it to build dams without proper environmental approvals.”

“It is simply outrageous that Rio Tinto continues to rely on these outdated entitlements rather than accepting modern environmental policy and practices which would ensure the protection of our unique wild rivers in Cape York.”

“We urge Rio Tinto to behave in an environmentally and socially responsible and equitable way, and play by the same rules which will apply to other commercial water users on the Wenlock River.”

The Wenlock River is one of Australia’s last great wild rivers. It has immense conservation importance as it is home to the richest diversity of freshwater fish species in Australia and is a vital oasis for native wildlife on Cape York during the long dry season. The Queensland government has previously applied a 1% water allocation policy to limit how much water gets taken by commercial users on declared wild rivers. 

Traditional Owners are guaranteed Indigenous water rights under these declarations – the first time such water entitlements have been provided to Indigenous communities.

A decision on the final Wenlock Basin Wild River declaration is expected later this year.

Mr Walker commented that “The wild rivers of Cape York should not be sacrificed to the greed of mining companies. Rio Tinto should do the right thing and agree to fully adhere to the Wenlock Basin Wild River declaration, without any special exemptions.”