Irwin Mine

Irwin mine fight gains new voice Brian WIHiams ENVIRONMENT REPORTER

THE Federal Government has been roped into the fight between cape Alumina and Terri Irwin over whether mining should be allowed on her Cape York property. Labor Senator Mark Furner said yesterday that he visited the property in August and was stunned at the beauty of its bauxite springs. "I've never seen anything like this." he said. - "It's amazing. A paradise." Senator Furner said he had no objection to mining but the company's proposed 200m buffer zone between the springs and its quarrying proposal should not be allowed. "Surely we can set this area aside," he said, "We've got to seriously consider what a unique place this is and the ecological systems it has

before we start what is a relatively small mining project. The project makes up only 1 per cent of all mining on the cape, "I've already notified (Environment Minister Peter) Garrett's office. I want to.., hopefully have him understand some of the considerations that need to be taken." The first comprehensive studies of the 135,000ha Steve Irwin Reserve on Cape York have turned up a plethora of species. Scientists have found the highly acidic springs support 151 vertebrate species, some threatened, with more expected to be found. But Cape Alumina chief executive Paul Messenger said that rather than the springs being unique, there were at least 100 and possibly up to 200 on the cape. He said only 3000ha of the I2,000ha permit area

would be mined to a depth of 3m at a rate of about 200ha a year for 10 to 25 years. It would be progressively rehabilitated and the State Government would set an appropriate buffer zone, ensuring the springs would not be harmed. Nine scientists yesterday wait public with a letter to Premier Anna Bligh, appealing to her to save the springs. It's the latest move in what is turning into one of the nation's most in triguing miningconservation battles, with Cape Alumina and Ms Irwin locked in a public relations brawlThe property was bought in 2006 with the help of a $63 million Federal Government grant pushed through by former prime minister John Howard after the death of Ms Irwin's husband, Steve, in 2005.