Drought of the Century

In the next 12 months the beautiful spring water creeks of far north Queensland could be transformed into sand and stone if the proposals for a $1 billion Century Zinc mine and pipeline in the region are approved.

The pipeline will run from the planned mine, 150km south west of Burketown and span 300km to the Gulf of Carpentaria, crossing major freshwater river systems in its path.

President of the Gulf of Carpentaria Land Council, Murrandoo Yanner, voiced his concern for the ecosystem of the Gulf and the livelihood of future generations in the area, yesterday while attending an indigenous cultural festival in Brisbane.

“82% of what (the water) we use will be taken out (by bores) in one year. And that’s industrial use, personal use, everything. That’s what it amounts to,“ Mr Yanner said.

“Theoretically … the place the pipe’s first going to bust and spill is at the kinks. They (the minerals) are most abrasive at the kinks in the pipeline and they’re right near the major river systems.’

The pipeline will carry zinc ore slurry to a port facility on the Gulf, which will then be shipped overseas.

The entrance of foreign ships into the Gulf has also raised opposition from the Council.

“Big ships from overseas, from different oceans, will bring stuff like thorny star crown fish that will drop off and invade our ecosystems … our reefs,” Mr Yanner said.
The National Native Title tribunal will mediate negotiations between the Council, State Government and Century Zinc Limited, on the use of land and the employment of indigenous people in the development.