The ABC’s Mark Willacy reports (5.7.16) on mining applications being considered by the Natural Resources Department, on parts of the far north Queensland property earlier purchased by the government to help protect the Great Barrier Reef from sediment runoff.
‘The Queensland Department of Natural Resources is considering two controversial applications to mine a river on a sprawling Cape York cattle station, the ABC can reveal.
‘This is despite the same cattle station being bought last month by the state’s environment department in an effort to ensure conservation of the Great Barrier Reef.
‘The apparent contradiction — one department potentially approving mining, with another department seeking to protect the environment — has been described by conservationists as “the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing”.
‘The applications propose the excavation of gold and tin ore in the West Normanby River on Springvale Station, which was bought last month by the state for $7 million.
‘… The Department of Natural Resources and Mines told the ABC the in-stream mining applications on Springvale Station were going through a “rigorous and transparent” assessment process.’