Cape York coal mining.

[wally]

We can't let them do this to Cape York.

Huge dirty coal mine planned for Cape York (http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/cape-york/huge-dirty-coal-mine-planned-for-cape-york)

[inside]

Australia is so short sighted. We're just China's quarry.

[Disco44]

Those areas shown on the map are among the last pristine areas left in Australia.It makes one wonder if any pristine areas are going to be left for the enjoyment of future generations. Geez the almighty dollar sucks doesn't it.

[Sprint]

oh but dont worry, the mines will have to "rehabilitate" the area once theyre done.....

[rockyroad]

What a joke. I cant believe you guys are taking this seriously.

The wilderness society is not a credible news source and even if they were you lose credibility when you ask readers to make a donation to them and they havent provided any details or evidence of these claims.

I have no doubt that some companies have made enquiries or submitted claims to mine the area but I really doubt that a mine would ever go ahead as it would not be economically feasible. The costs of infrastructure like roads and water as well as the costs of getting it out of the ground and then off to a harbour (which would not be possible in that part of the world) would be cost prohibative and to top it all off the actual coal deposits in that area arent that big.

I am prepared to even go out on a limb and predict that our politicians will not allow it. Time will tell.

http://www.ohsa.com.au/assets/ohsa_documents/MAP/map-assets/qld_coal_map_08.pdf

[isuzurover]

...
I have no doubt that some companies have made enquiries or submitted claims to mine the area but I really doubt that a mine would ever go ahead as it would not be economically feasible. ...

The area we are talking about (as shown on the map you linked) is near cooktown. I can't see it not being economically feasible (at least some time in the future).

Some unbiased sources:

Cape coal project will 'destroy' reef region
Abigail Stanbridge

Posted September 02, 2011 08:09:08
Map: Cooktown 4871

A proposal for a coal mining project on Cape York in the state's far north has met with opposition from the Queensland Wilderness Society (QWS).

QWS says Aust-Pac Capital's Wongai Project north-west of Cooktown, in far north Queensland, is being assessed by federal Environment Minister Tony Burke.

Aust-Pac Capital says the project would not affect the "composition or diversity" of plant and animal species but a conveyor and barge loading facility would be visible from the Great Barrier Reef world heritage area off Queensland.

QWS spokesman Glenn Walker wants coal mining to be banned on Cape York.

"Essentially what the coal mining company is proposing is to carve up the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, to carve up a nature refuge, to destroy a beautiful area and walk away with the profits," he said.

"They want Queenslanders to give them the tick for this - we say no and we'll be fighting it," he said.

The ABC has contacted Mr Burke for comment.
Cape coal project will 'destroy' reef region - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-02/claim-cape-coal-project-will-destroy-reef-region/2867802)



Fight over Cape York coalmine
17:30 AEST Thu Sep 1 2011

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Environmentalists are shaping up for a fight with traditional owners and developers over plans to establish a coalmine in Cape York.

Developer Aust-Pac Capital last week referred to the federal government a proposal to develop a coalmine on Aboriginal-owned land north of Cooktown.

The site is nestled between three national parks and is located close to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area and environmentalists have reacted angrily to the proposal

Environmental lobby group The Wilderness Society on Thursday angrily attacked the proposal and vowed to fight it "with every last breath".

"We helped fight off sandmining on Fraser Island, we helped fight off logging in the Daintree and this has got to be as big a campaign," Wilderness Society campaigner Glenn Walker told AAP on Thursday.

"How can we allow the coalminers to carve this place up and threaten our marine species in the Great Barrier Reef?"

The proposal document says traditional owners approached Aust-Pac Capital to investigate the feasibility of extracting coking coal from the site.

Representatives of the Kalpowar people did not return phone calls on Thursday.

The company says it plans to establish a small-scale mine, under the name the Wongai Project, which would be of ongoing benefit to the traditional owners for more than 25 years.

The proposal document also indicates that a barge-loading facility would be constructed nearby to ship the coal away from the site and the area may need to be dredged to allow barge access.

The proposal was referred to the commonwealth environment department on August 25 for public comment but will need to satisfy numerous Queensland and federal government laws before it is granted approval to go ahead.

Mr Walker said the project should not have been allowed to get to this stage and called on Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman to ban all coalmining on Cape York.

AAP ews/mp By Evan Schwarten

CAIRNS, Sept 1 AAP - Environmentalists are shaping up for a fight with traditional owners and developers over plans to establish a coalmine in Cape York.

Developer Aust-Pac Capital last week referred to the federal government a proposal to develop a coalmine on Aboriginal-owned land north of Cooktown.

The site is nestled between three national parks and is located close to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area and environmentalists have reacted angrily to the proposal

Environmental lobby group The Wilderness Society on Thursday angrily attacked the proposal and vowed to fight it "with every last breath".

"We helped fight off sandmining on Fraser Island, we helped fight off logging in the Daintree and this has got to be as big a campaign," Wilderness Society campaigner Glenn Walker told AAP on Thursday.

"How can we allow the coalminers to carve this place up and threaten our marine species in the Great Barrier Reef?"

The proposal document says traditional owners approached Aust-Pac Capital to investigate the feasibility of extracting coking coal from the site.

Representatives of the Kalpowar people did not return phone calls on Thursday.

The company says it plans to establish a small-scale mine, under the name the Wongai Project, which would be of ongoing benefit to the traditional owners for more than 25 years.

The proposal document also indicates that a barge-loading facility would be constructed nearby to ship the coal away from the site and the area may need to be dredged to allow barge access.

The proposal was referred to the commonwealth environment department on August 25 for public comment but will need to satisfy numerous Queensland and federal government laws before it is granted approval to go ahead.

Mr Walker said the project should not have been allowed to get to this stage and called on Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman to ban all coalmining on Cape York.

[John W]

True mining may be marginal in some places but does not seem to stop them. It is down right scary what is going on in outback Qld with huge complexes and mines going in, in all kinds of out of the way places for all kinds of minerals. Say good by to savannah and other habitats and hello china.

[ramblingboy42]

if this is making some people feel uncomfortable it is your fault entirely. a few years we had political party that had the only "true" environmental policies (you can still read those policies.....dont argue with me about them) and had elected senators and mla's who tried to institute ways of dealing with the current situations that are now happening......you were all warned about this, had the opportunity to actually do something about it, by having proper controls and measures put in place, but you all chose to ignore what this party was trying to tell the country and allowed it to slide into obscurity. Now its going to come back and bite your arses really hard.

[rockyroad]

I still see this as nothing more than a storm in a tea cup whipped up by the wilderness society for the purposes of fundraising. These companies may want to mine the area or have at the very least shown interest in mining the area but that doesnt mean they will ever get the go ahead from government.

There is no way in hell that any party would allow damage to the great barrier reef (deliberate damage for purpose of a new port and shipping channel at least) to go ahead yet alone the destruction of pristine wilderness areas. It would be political suicide.

[BMKal]

I agree with the comments that this is probably just the loons in the Wilderness Society trying to drum up some trade.

I seriously doubt the Queensland Governent and their Environment Dep't woud ever let anything like this get off the ground, They have refused to renew the operating lease for the Collingwood Tin Mine, which is only just out of Cooktown in behind Black Mountain. The owners of the mine cannot sell it, as evereyone knows that it will never operate again, and they are now trying to sell off the proce3ssing plant for whatever they can get for it (which won't be much). I was up there a while back looking at the plant for a client who was considering buying it and re-locating it to Mt Carbine to process Scheelite and Wolframite (similar processes to tin recovery). Not sure what the current status of it all is - it's a while now since I had any involvement in the project.

[wally]

[QUOTE=BMKal;1573361]I agree with the comments that this is probably just the loons in the Wilderness Society trying to drum up some trade.

I seriously doubt the Queensland Governent and their Environment Dep't woud ever let anything like this get off the ground,

I certainly hope you're right. But strange things happen, especially when extraordinary amounts of money and profits are involved. We can't just sit back and say governments won't allow it. This needs to be followed very closely. The Qld government has already issued nineteen exploration permits (according to the wilderness society, who are not loons but people who do a good job bringing these things to our attention) over a huge area. That's a very worrying first step. This is an area that includes the catchments of the magnificent rivers of Lakefield National Park that eventually find their way to Princess Charlotte Bay. This is an area of extreme biological significance. Accompanying all of this is a proposal to build a port facility at Bathurst Bay, something that, in itself, is potentially at least as disastrous as the mining could be, especially if the current state of Gladstone harbour is any sort of a guide.

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

Australia is so short sighted. We're just China's quarry.and China Tip
Once we have quarried every thing of worth and given it to China, we can then refill those quarries with all the Chinese crap that breaks later.
Drove down the road and there was a council hard rubbish collection, I was amazed that nearly every hold hold was throwing out TVs, a few had 3 or 4 TVs on their piles. Most of the brand stuff is made in Chine

[BMKal]

(according to the wilderness society, who are not loons but people who do a good job bringing these things to our attention)

Having come across these people in Fremantle and Tassie, and seeing first hand the garbage that they peddle in order to take money from the gullible, I'm afraid that we'll have to agree to disagree on that point. ;)

But I do agree with the other comments that you made. :D

[101RRS]

I was amazed that nearly every hold hold was throwing out TVs, a few had 3 or 4 TVs on their piles. Most of the brand stuff is made in Chine

And I will be doing the same as I have a few analogue TVs that are being replaced by digital - these are not being thrown out because they have broken or are made in China but because they are now outdated technology.

Garry

[BMKal]

And I will be doing the same as I have a few analogue TVs that are being replaced by digital - these are not being thrown out because they have broken or are made in China but because they are now outdated technology.

Garry

Spot on Garry. ;)

In fact, there's nothing at all wrong with Chinese TV's and a lot of other products from China these days. Some people just can't help complaining. :angel:

[Didge]

It looks like the Getup people are taking this thing seriously. Have a look at the link and sign the petition; no, they're not asking for money, just names of people who want to preserve the environment. If you like the reef the way it is, best sign the petition and pass on the link; if you don't care about leaving an environment for future generations, don't sign it.
GetUp! - Save the reef (http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/coal-seam-gas/great-barrier-reef/save-the-reef't=dXNlcmlkPTMxMTIwNixlbWFpbGlkPTQ1MA%3D%3D)

[wally]

Having come across these people in Fremantle and Tassie, and seeing first hand the garbage that they peddle in order to take money from the gullible, I'm afraid that we'll have to agree to disagree on that point. ;)

But I do agree with the other comments that you made. :D

Fair enough then. I don't have any first hand experience of them so you are probably better placed to make that judgement.

[Pierre]

Did I see somewhere recently that there was a proposal for the establishment of wharf and processing/loading facilities at Bathurst Bay near Cape Melville, or was I dreaming?

God, I hope I was !!!!

Pete

[wally]

Did I see somewhere recently that there was a proposal for the establishment of wharf and processing/loading facilities at Bathurst Bay near Cape Melville, or was I dreaming?

God, I hope I was !!!!

Pete

You weren't.

[Utemad]

If you want to see all the mining, gas etc tenements in Qld have a look at their online mapping program on the DEEDI website.

Interactive resource and tenure maps | Mining and safety | Queensland Government (http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/geoscience/interactive-resource-tenure-maps.htm)

I've attached a map from that program that shows all the exploration permits for coal (EPC) in Qld.
The light green ones are not yet granted. Dark green ones are granted.

Yes I work for DEEDI.