03 OCTOBER 2013www.mydailynews.com.au
Petition to halt Bauxite Mining project at Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve fails
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
1 min read
A Petition from Australia Zoo owner Terri Irwin demanding a halt to a bauxite mine development inside the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve has fallen short, with Mines Minister Andrew Cripps saying it would be decided by "due process".
Cape Alumina's Pisolite Hills project will begin construction within the massive reserve early next year if it can win proper approvals.
In her petition, Ms Irwin - the widow of the iconic crocodile hunter - said the mining area including "irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished".
The 507 signatories did not move the government.
In a response tabled to Parliament, Mr Cripps said the government would maintain the "highest standards of environmental practice and social responsibility" when considering the plan.
He said it would now "continue through due process" which would include examining environmental, native title and legal impacts.
Ms Irwin and Australia Zoo were unavailable for comment late on Tuesday.
Cape Alumina's Pisolite Hills project will begin construction within the massive reserve early next year if it can win proper approvals.
In her petition, Ms Irwin - the widow of the iconic crocodile hunter - said the mining area including "irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished".
The 507 signatories did not move the government.
In a response tabled to Parliament, Mr Cripps said the government would maintain the "highest standards of environmental practice and social responsibility" when considering the plan.
He said it would now "continue through due process" which would include examining environmental, native title and legal impacts.
Ms Irwin and Australia Zoo were unavailable for comment late on Tuesday.
Previous article
Vedanta looks beyond Niyamgiri for bauxite supplies
Next articleChinese, Indonesian Companies sign deals to build a bauxite and aluminium processing plant
Grow with
AL Circle
