Mining still threatens Great Barrier Reef

Mining still threatens Great Barrier Reef

By Francesca Davis

On August 19, federal environment minister Robert Hill announced new regulations to ban mining and drilling on the Great Barrier Reef. The move will not, however, stop three proposed oil shale mines from going ahead within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

According to the North Queensland Conservation Council, the "ban" does not include areas classed as "inland waters". That means mining of shale oil deposits in the Whitsundays and near Gladstone can go ahead, despite being in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

NQCC coordinator Jeremy Tager said Hill is "using the complexities of the boundaries to confuse the public. Not only is oil shale mining tremendously destructive, burning of oil shale is far more polluting and causes far more greenhouse gas emissions than oil.

"The mining will cause immediate damage to the World Heritage Areas and it will also contribute to the long-term bleaching of the corals in the Great Barrier Reef."

From GLW issue 332