Friends of Stradbroke Island

Dear Mr Newman, We have some questions about your North Stradbroke Bill to extend sand mining. Your father, as Federal Environment minister, ended sand mining on Fraser Island in 1976. He accepted that sand mining causes major permanent environmental harm and damages the tourism economy.  Why won’t you? Sand mining will result in the total destruction of 14 square  kilometres  of forests, rich in biodiversity and scenic value, at  Sibelco’s  Enterprise mine.   On 30 October, your department admitted that over 70% of the mine path is “undisturbed  bushland ”. Did you know that this is home to many threatened species, including the island’s genetically distinct koala and the beautiful glossy black cockatoo? Scientists conclude that sand mining also destroys the complex structure of ancient sand dunes integral to the flow of water to the island’s internationally  recognised  wetlands and lakes. These constitute half the island. A huge fresh water aquifer also lies beneath the whole island