The Queensland Government has quietly removed critical environmental safeguards  from its proposed North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability Amendment Bill 2013

THE state government will amend the North Stradbroke Island Sustainability Act to allow mining on the island after 2025 to 2035. Queensland Mines Minister Andrew Cripps was expected to introduce a Bill to amend the North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability Act in Parliament yesterday.

Under the Act, which received royal assent in April 2011, 94 per cent of mining on Straddie was to be phased out by 2019, and all mining operations ceased by 2025.

The amendment will mean island miner Sibelco will be able to keep open its Enterprise Mine, 10km south of Dunwich, until 2035 and not have to shut it in 2019. (Bayside Bulletin, 17/10/13)

Follow this link to view SCEC's submission:  SCEC's submission on Nth Stradbroke Protection & Sustainability Act amendments.

and to see the Environmental Defenders Office-QLD's submission here.

To find out more details about the irreversible damage sand mining will do to the island, visit the 'Save Straddie' website.

Media releases around this issue are below: 

Qld government quietly removes Stradbroke safeguards: ACF 24/10/2013

Sand miner spent $91,000 in Ashgrove campaign: Brisbane Times 30/10/2013

QUANDAMOOKA YOOLOOBURRABEE ABORIGINAL CORPORATION RNTBC: 17/10/2013