The sand minerals mined in Australia include zircon, ilmenite and rutile. We have the world's largest Economic Demonstrated Resource (EDR) of these mineral sands and they are an important source of export earnings. This is what caused the issue to come up. But because of all the extraction of these minerals, it requires deconstruction of beaches, which affects the natural cycles that form sand banks and destroys the habitats of many plants and animals.
In 2003 the federal government proposed the 'Framework for a National
Cooperative Approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management'. This has
been a key factor in addressing the need for care and more efforts of development in the area of coastal management.
The Cape Cleveland Community Action Group in Queensland says it is worried about the environmental and health impacts of a sand mine in that area. A spokeswoman named Evol Fayers talks about how the group invited local politicians to a community meeting to discuss residents' concerns.
"The concern is the environment because it is an internationally-listed wetland and it should be protected," she said. "Second is that this new application that's just been approved borders 17 properties, so there are 17 residences that this sand mine will operate at the back of." She says the group is concerned about the health of residents and the environment. "Last week, council approved another application for another sand mine site, which has really got the residents up in arms," she said. "They've admitted that there will be more dust and more noise to the residents but they've put boundaries there so they can protect the wetlands."
The city councillor of Townsville, Tony Parsons, says the sand mining issue can only be changed by the State Government.
"This has been signed off by two state departments being the Department of
Environment and Resource Management [DERM] and the Department of Main Roads," he said.
This is just one example of what some groups/organisations are doing to help stop sand mining. Another major organisation is 'Save Straddie'.
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