Bimblebox Nature Refuge

Desert Uplands Central-west Queensland

Location of Bimblebox500km west of Rockhampton50km north-west of Alpha

Brief background

o In 2002 the Bimblebox Nature Refuge Agreement was signed between the land owners and the state government, to “permanently protect” the property’s conservation values

o The property was bought in 2000 to save it from clearing with combined money of concerned families, plus ~ $300,000 of federal National Reserve System funding

What’s so good about Bimblebox?o 7,912 hectares, over 95% is remnant woodland and

judged by ecologists to be in good condition

o One of very few conservation areas in Desert Uplands (considered a ‘biodiversity hotspot’ but less than 5% of the bioregion is formally protected)

o Rich in biodiversity – birds, reptiles, flora

o Important example of conservation-oriented grazing

o Hosts a number of long-term research projects

Obligations by owners of Bimblebox

There are extensive conditions under both the National Reserve System (Commonwealth Govt) and Nature Refuge Program (Queensland Govt)

e.g., there “must be no destruction of any native plants”; the Minister must be informed if there are any “threats” to the refuge

Mining threat to Bimbleboxo Waratah coal announced they were starting exploration activities in

2007, 20 exploration holes drilled in 2008o 2011 EIS detailed plans to open cut around 52% of Bimblebox and

underground mine the remaindero Proposed production of 40 Mt/year

Two open cut and four underground mines proposed + rail line + adjacent power plant

o Current legislation does not exempt private protected areas from mining

o QLD Coordinator General granted conditioned approval in Aug 2013, Federal assessment due in Nov

Proposed Galilee coal mines and their status (source: Draining Our Lifeblood Report)

The proposed mine and Bimblebox

Consequences of miningo Loss of habitat and biodiversity

Not just Bimblebox – other remnant woodland in region threatened by proposed mines

o Mining the National Reserve System of protected areas To our knowledge no protected area has been wholly

destroyed by mining… could this set a dangerous precedent?

o Loss of trust by landholders who invest much time, energy, money and passion in protecting Australia’s unique biodiversity

“Today over 560,800 hectares of some the world’s most biologically diverse areas are protected in Nature Refuges”

“All 242 nature refuge landholders have one thing in common – they know their patch is worth protecting forever” (2007)

Nature Refuge News, Aug 2007

Our oppositiono Letters: to Qld & C’wealth Ministers, to IUCNo Media: letters to newspapers, radio interviews, websiteo Submissions: detailed response to Waratah EIS and SEIS + submissions to

other proposed mines in regiono Networking with others: Mackay Conservation Group, Human Society

International, Capricornia Conservation Council, 6 Degrees etc..o Other: hosted Bimblebox Art Camp, reporting breaches to DERM, postcard

campaign, petition to the Queensland Government, documentary made, etc…o Objecting to Alpha Coal Mine, Land Court Qld

Objecting to Alpha Coal Mineo Located within 10km of Bimblebox northern

boundaryo Grounds of objection:

Groundwater impacts that will effect business and livelihood and the integrity of the nature refuge

Missed out objecting on coal dust likely to exceed the levels recommended by the Environmental Protection Policy (EPP) (Air) by around 13 times on Bimblebox. There is no evidence that this dust could be mitigated

Galilee Basin: Saudi Arabia?o Many companies have identified the Galilee Basin

as the next major energy province in QLD Coal, CSG, Shale Gas, UCG

o Qld State Government’s goal “… development of a world scale energy province in

Queensland”o Campbell Newman to Tony Abbot

“get out of our way” in the Galilee Basin

1 July 2009, 414 EPCs, area = 121,500 km2 1 July 2005, 183 EPCs, area = 49,500 km2

Cumulative impacts

o Groundwatero Biodiversityo Climateo Socialo Economic

What now?

o Waratah Coal’s final EIS to the Commonwealth Government open for comment from 30th Sept

o Greg Hunt is currently assessing the project. Public comment will be open from Monday until he makes a decision, which is expected in November

o Waratah still has to apply for water licences and a Mining Licence – at which stage the public has the opportunity to put in an objection to the Land Court

What can we do?o Clive Palmer and the PUP in parliament (Reps & Senate)

• Coalition motivated to keep Clive happy?• "We'll just kick them in the arse. We'll kick pretty hard and

we'll push pretty hard…” (Palmer quoted in 2010 regarding state approval)

• Waratah Coal been revealed to employ lobbyists o Keep mobilising public opposition to this mine and

raising awareness about the potential disaster of Galilee Basin development

Possible legal avenueso Challenging the federal EPBC decision

o Timing: December 2013/January 2014o Challenging the mining lease and environmental authority at the

state level o Timing: Beginning of 2014

o We welcome your ideas and expertise in this areao Are there any other avenues that we may not be aware of?

“Our family, 10 years ago put every available last dollar into buying the place to save it from bulldozers. Then in securing it as a Nature Refuge, we were charged by both federal and state governments with the responsibility to restore and preserve.

That’s our brief and we intend to keep it and if government and industry cannot recognise its value, then we who do, must show them this place means as much to us as coal does to them.”

Ian Hoch, Bimbleboxbimblebox@gmail.com

www.bimblebox.org

Black orchid

Migratory Rainbow Bee-eater

White-necked Heron

Nobby Dragon

On the boundary of Bimblebox

A view over the boundary

Silver-leaved Ironbark woodland and Spinifex understorey