Plan to mine seabed off Sydney

January 26, 1994
Issue 

By Helen Jarvis

SYDNEY — Imagine 100 million tonnes of sand: that's what Metromix proposes to dredge from the seabeds offshore from Botany Bay, Cronulla and the Royal National Park (itself nearly 90% burnt out during the recent bushfires).

This outrageous affront to Sydney's acclaimed beaches has been proposed to the NSW government, and is open to public comment until January 28, after which a state commission of inquiry is to consider submissions on the proposal.

A number of environmental groups have taken action to oppose this development. Stop Ocean Sandmining has been collecting signatures on letters to the minister for planning, and organised a rally at Bondi Beach on Saturday, January 22, at which the deputy mayor of Waverley Council, Paul Pearce spoke, and a number of Sydney musicians and singers performed.

The National Parks Association southern Sydney branch has issued a detailed statement outlining the implications of the proposal:

  • around 24 square kilometres of seabed is to be sucked up, removing up to five metres of nutrient-rich surface sand;

  • half of the area to be dredged comes as close as 500 metres from the shoreline;

  • the dredge vessel will release fine materials as it travels up the coast to Sydney Harbour, creating a plume 160 metres wide and nearly eight kilometres long;

  • surveys have shown that this area contains a tremendous variety of microfauna, as well as 150 species of bottom dwelling fish, and both eastern king prawn and school prawn are prevalent;

  • 22 species of marine mammals have been seen in the area, including dugongs, humpback whales, southern right whales and fur seals.

The sand is to be unloaded at Glebe Island and then be trucked in an estimated 600 semitrailers per day for movement through Sydney's streets — causing concern to many inner city residents. The company making the proposal, Metromix Pty Ltd, is the current owner of one of the two diminishing sand mines at Kurnell. Metromix is jointly owned by Pioneer Concrete and CSR Investments.

The state government would earn $2 million a year (10% of the estimated value of the sand), but opponents say this would be far outweighed by financial losses to tourism and recreation industries in the southern part of Sydney, not to mention the permanent loss of irreplaceable national resources.

For further information, contact: Stop Ocean Sandmining — Secretary Bob Perrin, c/- Sutherland Shire Environment Centre, Suite 16 Eton Arcade, 754/760 Princes Highway, Sutherland NSW 2232. Ph: (02) 545 3077 or 558 8181.

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