Stradbroke Island is sacred Aboriginal land colonised by the British in the 19th century, the land is called Minjerribah.
For over 50 years sand miners have had their way with Minjerribah – Stradbroke Island (Straddie).
Once in a while there was organised opposition.
For example there was opposition to the proposed bridge to Straddie in 1978. ‘Leave Straddie Unabridged’ stickers appeared everywhere.
But little has come of this opposition to mining because of the support of the miners by successive state and federal governments. Companies such as CRL and UNIMIN have trawled the sand for minerals like zircon, titanium, and silicon used in industry for manufacture of planes and glass. Recently the Bligh government has attempted to steal more water from Stradbroke to supply Logan City. Already half the water used in the Cleveland shire comes from Straddie. Much of the ground water is used my mining companies to leech out minerals for export. For details see Water Theft and Saving Water.
In the 1970s there was opposition to the Bjelke-Petersen government’s rape of the land on Straddie and elsewhere on Moreton and Fraser Islands.
There has been much destruction by mining, four wheel driving, fishing, camping, tourism and development. Many people and governments have shown little respect for the land. They have not learnt from the traditional owners.
Oodgeroo (Kath Walker) taught respect for the land, dugon, turtle and dolphin. So too did ecologists, walkers, bush campers and people who loved the island during these dark times.
Perhaps now we have a chance to change all that. I am not optimistic, little has changed in society to believe it possible. But surely the greedy miners should be sent packing off the beautiful Minjerribah. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are taking the miners to court over the $80M worth of missing sand.
The indigenous people on the island are waging a campaign to save the island. I think we should take a chance, and support the Murri campaign to rid the island of the profiteers, the opportunists, the mining companies and developers who have sought to steal the land from the traditional custodians and to exploit it and workers at the mines for their own benefit.
Ian Curr
July 2010
Reference: http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.603299,153.449671&z=18&t=h&nmd=20100506
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URGENT COMMUNITY NOTICE
STOP UNIMIN FROM
TOTALLY DESTROYING STRADBROKE ISLAND
BE THERE AT THE
MAGISTRATES COURT
CORNER GEORGE STREET & TURBOT STREET
BRISBANE CITY
AT 9:30AM
WEDNESDAY JULY 14TH.
STOP THIS CORPORATE
MINING VANDAL AND THIEF!!
THE STRADBROKE ISLAND PEOPLE
NEED YOUR SUPPORT
THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN UNIMIN TO COURT
THEY MUST BE JUDGED AND THEY MUST BE STOPPED!!
STARDBROKE ISLAND / MINJERRIBAH IS SACRED LAND
IT IS NOT THERE FOR UNIMIN
TO DESTROY
AND SHIP OVERSEAS!!
DALE RUSKA – 0438 199 473
SAM WATSON – 0401 227 443
Unimin justice rally at Bris. Magistrates Court, 9.30am 14 July
Unimin will be in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday 14 July to face charges brought by Department of Environment and Resource Management for unlawfully taking and selling non-mineral sand from NSI without permits.
Last week, Unimin lost its appeal in the Supreme Court to have so-called B-grade sand defined as a mineral. The court upheld an earlier decision that Unimin’s removal and sale of sand for building and landscape purposes was unlawful, irrespective of royalties being paid.
Dale Ruska is calling for a peaceful rally outside the court at 9.30am, Wednesday 14 July. Please see his message attached.
SIMO supports the rally. We deplore environmental damage that has occurred as a consequence of Unimin’s taking and selling 100,000 tonnes of non-mineral sand per annum over many years. All that sand should have been returned to help re-form the post-mining landscape and to establish revegetation. The sand deficit created by Unimin’s removal of the sand represents a serious environmental breach of the company’s mining lease obligations.
This unlawful activity has occurred in one of the most scenic and pristine areas of the island, home to threatened frogs, endangered heathlands, and an area with some of the best views. It’s one of the best places to see masses of pink boronias in spring – not one but three different species. It is also a place of Indigenous cultural significance. The government has announced this area as future national park, yet the mining continues. The lease covering this country is called ‘Vance’, and the government should now cancel it in light of the court’s findings last week.
For islanders wishing to show support for Stradbroke, we suggest taking the 7.25am water taxi and the 8.10am train to Roma Street. The court is a short walk along George Street to the corner of Turbot Street. (There is a prominent wavy silver sculpture outside.)
Committee
Stradbroke Island Management Organisation
PO Point Lookout QLD 4183
07 3409 8944
ume@umemagazine.com
http://www.simo-stradbroke.org
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you must stop this pandering with the courts. they are in bed with the governments. just read their brigalow act.tresspass is a very serious crime,you must physically seize the equipment and contact international law and claim your rights under common law and not maritime law.this is the quickest way for the respected and rightful owners of the land.i am just a lay person, but i believe in respect and humility are the main guidelines for a long and happy life.