Firstly, this is an extraordinary location for the extremely rare southern
subspecies of Black-throated Finch, inland from Emerald and Rockhampton. There
have been no records anywhere near there for decades, and as far as I know,
there are no other populations south of the Burdekin River. This is a very
significant record.
Anthea asked why can't the government stop this.
They can, but will they? The EPBC Act enables the federal environment minister
to decline the development application due to the presence of the finches, but
it does not entail the minister to do so. Environmental impact assessment in
this country is not so much about saying yes or no to a proposal; most of the
emphasis is on determining how to proceed with the least amount of
environmental harm. That means detailed arguments, weighing up the costs
against the benefits, and that often becomes a value judgement. A development
proponent might try to argue that there are no finches there (challenge the
records) or that they are just migrants and not resident there, or that the
loss of a small population will not harm the species as a whole, or (most
likely) that they can manage the environment so as not to affect the finches. A
large mining company is also likely to put immense pressure on cabinet
ministers and opposition members to pressure the
environment minister (sometimes the decisions are made higher up than the
environment minister for reasons other than the EIS documents). When the EIS
goes to public comment, there is an opportunity for counter arguments to be
made, though of course any opponents do not have the resources, time, or land
access that the proponents have. When the minister makes a decision in favour
it will certainly be loaded with strict conditions, so not a simple yes . There
is opportunity for the proponent or opponents (depending which way it goes) to
challenge the decision in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. I would expect
in a case like this, if the decision was yes, a challenge would be lodged
because of the implications that such a ruling has for protection of all
threatened species in the future. However, the AAT only looks at merit, i.e.
whether everything is above board and complete, not whether it is right. It
all takes a long time to play
out.
Since BTFI is also listed as endangered in Qld the Nature Conservation Act and
the Integrated Planning and Assessment Act give the Qld environment minister a
similar opportunity to decline the application or approve it with conditions
(though the processes differ). I believe the Bimbelbox Nature Reserve is
managed by the Qld dept of Environment and Resources Management (if they still
go by that name). I'd be surprised if open cut mining in a nature reserve could
be permitted under Qld legislation. However, legislation is always full of
clauses and loop holes. Perhaps a state significant project overrides nature
reserves, or perhaps the NR can be deregistered. I can't think of an angle that
would give the federal government the power to protect a few acres of Qld
Nature Reserve, but the EPBC act is very complicated.
John said "Yes, we need export dollars and jobs and a boost in the rural economy
BUT........"
No offence, but do we really need more coal mines? Sounds like economic mantra
to me. If mining was going to save the rural economy it would surely be saved
already. How many jobs will come, and who will get them? Not the locals,
because there are none, probably the same big contract companies that work on
all big mines. Where do the export dollars go? Not into farms and food
production, not into local schools, maybe into executive salaries and
superannuation funds, if they stay in the country at all. Where is the
sustainability in exponential acceleration of mining, export and combustion of
coal? I suggest that our grand children will not be thanking us for the
prosperity we bring upon ourselves and the unrepairable mess we leave to
them.
David James,
Sydney
==============================
________________________________
From: brian fleming <>
To:
Sent: Friday, 21 October 2011 2:08 PM
Subject: Black-throated Finches and mining
If the Commonwealth Govt can step in and prevent the Victorian Govt's
attempt to re-establish cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park, why
cant it likewise prevent mining in a Queensland Nature Refuge?
Anthea Fleming
On 21/10/2011 12:30 PM, John Harris wrote:
> My question is "Why is mining even proposed on the Refuge?" Surely the
> management authority, whoever it is has had some input into this
> proposal ................ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> Yes, we need export dollars and jobs and a boost in the rural economy
> BUT........
>
>
>
> Yours in all things "green"
>
> Regards
>
> John Harris
> Manager, Environment and Sustainability
> Donvale Christian College
> 155 Tindals Rd Donvale 3111
> 03 9844 2471 Ext 277
> 03 9844 1102 Fax
> 0409 090 955
>
>
> President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (FNCV)
> Past President, Victorian Association for Environmental Education
> (VAEE)
>>>> Tom Tarrant<> 21/10/2011 12:17 PM>>>
> Still haven't seen this species....
>
> http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-21/bird-may-halt-palmer-mine-project/3591220/?site=brisbane
>
> Tom
>
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