Walsh River
Photo © Boris Saraber

Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has recently released their concurrency advise to refuse the Tableland, Earthmoving and Raw Materials P/L (TERM) development application to mine the Walsh River.

DERM’s decision was based on the following legislation:

Water Act 2000

DERM granted approval to remove quarry material from a water course subject to conditions.

Vegetation Management Act 1999

DERM refused the development application due to the following:

• The remnant vegetation to be cleared has significant levels of ecosystem function. Removal would result in retained areas of vegetation of insufficient size and that would not maintain ecosystem function
• The remnant vegetation to be cleared satisfies two important elements of connectivity
• provides a range of habitat for fauna and flora species
• enables flora and fauna species to travel within in and between suitable habitats
• Removal of this corridor would result in a loss of habitat and restricted movement of species
• TERM did not perform fauna surveys. Without this critical information DERM could not make an informed recommendation for approval therefore they had to act under the precautionary principle which states:

  '....that lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing a measure to prevent degradation of the environment if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage.' 

Environmental Protection Act 1994

DERM refused application for: dredging, in a year, more than 100 000t – 1000 000t of material based on:

• Noise matters – noise from extraction, excavation movement and haul truck movement will significantly impact surrounding residence
• Environmental health matters – the clearing of the area will effectively result in both loss and degradation of an area which has significant conservation values and it is unlikely that the existing corridor and habitat function of the river could be effectively reinstated in less than approximately 25yrs.

DERM granted screening of material with conditions.

Third Party Advice: TERM must also research Aboriginal cultural heritage issues.

Read the full DERM report.

According to the local press there is every indication that TERM will fully utilise all their rights to appeal this decision.

Wildlife Queensland has submitted their comments to Tablelands Regional Council on TERM’s development application. Wildlife Queensland also forwarded their concerns to the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, the Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and the Federal Environment Minister.

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, contact us by email or call +61 7 3221 0194.

Wildlife Queensland © December 2009