North Stradbroke Island Program: Minister Rejects ACFs Claims (Australia)

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Andrew Cripps, has slammed today’s grandstanding from green groups about the future management of North Stradbroke Island.

Mr Cripps said comments by conservation multi-national the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) are just predictable politicking from blow-in groups purporting to represent local concerns.

“The reality is that their extreme green views have very little support at the grass roots level in the local community, where the 145 jobs that sand mining supports are critical to the island’s economy,” Mr Cripps said.

“The call for federal intervention is a desperate tactic, after the Queensland Government’s plans to provide for a longer transition from sand-mining to other economic activities on the island was strongly endorsed by the local community at the last state election.

“The election result on the island very clearly shows the LNP’s plans are supported by the people who actually live on the island and that the fly-in fly-out activists from the radical green movement are struggling for relevance.”

Mr Cripps rejected the ACFs claims that an extension to sand dredging would damage the environment and re-affirmed the Newman Government’s commitment to fulfilling its Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Quandamooka people.

“The Newman Government is genuinely interested in ensuring a sustainable economic and environmental future for all the residents of North Stradbroke Island, particularly indigenous residents,” he said.

“We are 100 per cent committed to fulfilling our obligations and the benefits delivered to the Quandamooka under the ILUA between the state and Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (external site) (QYAC).

“My Department and I will continue to engage with QYAC and urge it to consider the very real economic benefits, in terms of increased royalties and employment opportunities, that extended sand mining operations offers its people.

“It is in everyone’s interests for mining company Sibelco and QYAC to come together to discuss the future for sand mining on North Stradbroke Island.”

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Press Release, August 20, 2013