NEWS
WHEN WILL IT
There is more consultation ahead as the new Newman State Government re-examines how and when mining on the Island should end. BY MARIA TAN
N
ational parks minister and member for Buderim, Steve Dickson, has told SIN he’s committed to expanding and protecting the national park on Straddie, but not “at the cost of jobs for locals. “The Newman Government is committed to a more orderly transition to end sand mining on the Island,” Mr Dickson said. “We have always said there will be an end to sand mining on Stradbroke, but our government will consult with community and other stakeholders to negotiate a fair and sensible wind-down period.” Under the North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability Act 2011, legislation brought in by the Bligh Government in April last year, mining on Straddie is due to be phased out by 2025. That Act will have to be amended by the Newman Government if it decides to make any change to that proposed end date. Friends of Stradbroke Island (FOSI) believe the Newman Government has been given a golden opportunity – to bring forward the end of mining. “It has been known, since the federal government Fraser Island Environmental
10 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS
Inquiry 35 years ago, that sand mining on Queensland’s sand islands causes, in the words of the then Prime Minister, ‘major permanent and irreversible damage’,” Sue Ellen Carew, FOSI president, told SIN. “The then federal government ended sand mining on Fraser within weeks of receiving the Inquiry’s report. “Unfortunately, shortsighted Queensland governments continued to bend to mining company demands to keep mining Stradbroke. “Only last year the Queensland government used special legislation to renew key expired leases to allow mining to continue at Enterprise mine until 2020 and at the Vance silica mine until 2025.” Sibelco spokesman Paul Smith says the current legislation will lead to a “premature” end to mining on North Stradbroke. Mr Smith says there are opportunities for “working constructively with the Newman Government on a realistic and practical plan for North Stradbroke Island, that will increase the protected estate alongside Sibelco’s sand mining operations. “Under the previous Bligh Government many Islanders would have certainly lost their livelihoods under a
hastily-written policy that would have prematurely ended sand mining on North Stradbroke Island,” Mr Smith told SIN. He says the mining company is looking forward to a renewed relationship with Redland City Council under the direction of new mayor, Karen Williams. She is a vocal supporter of mining on Straddie and criticised the Bligh Government throughout her own election campaign. Last year Ms Williams unsuccesfully called on the Council to go on the record as being opposed to the national parks legislation. “I made that very clear at the time, that there were lots of holes in what was put forward with no consultation with either myself or local government representatives or even the broader population,” the new Mayor said. “I cannot support state government writing legislation on the run. “If legislation is going to impact our community at any level, either side, it has to be well thought out so there isn’t any question about how it’s going to be delivered.” WINTER 2012