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Bauxite plans spark fears for reef
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
1 min read
Conservationists say a planned bauxite mine expansion on Cape York, in far north Queensland, could hurt the Great Barrier Reef.
Rio Tinto Alcan is planning the $1.5 billion expansion near Weipa.
Several conservation groups have lodged a submission with the Federal Government, requesting it change how it is assessing the proposal.
Gavan MacFadzean from the Wilderness Society says the Government is not considering the impact of increased shipping from the mine through the reef.
"I mean, their refinery is in Gladstone and they do state that there'll be a significant increase in shipping movements," he said.
"We understand that to be in the vicinity of 700 or 14 a week, and that's the environmental impact that we want assessed as additional work for Rio before the South of Embley expansion occurs."
However, Rio Tinto Alcan says it is not planning to increase shipping to Gladstone at all.
In a statement, it says any extra ships will be bound for export markets in Asia.
Rio Tinto Alcan is planning the $1.5 billion expansion near Weipa.
Several conservation groups have lodged a submission with the Federal Government, requesting it change how it is assessing the proposal.
Gavan MacFadzean from the Wilderness Society says the Government is not considering the impact of increased shipping from the mine through the reef.
"I mean, their refinery is in Gladstone and they do state that there'll be a significant increase in shipping movements," he said.
"We understand that to be in the vicinity of 700 or 14 a week, and that's the environmental impact that we want assessed as additional work for Rio before the South of Embley expansion occurs."
However, Rio Tinto Alcan says it is not planning to increase shipping to Gladstone at all.
In a statement, it says any extra ships will be bound for export markets in Asia.
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