Cape York Weekly Edition 001

Page 1

Cape York Weekly FREE – #001 | Monday, September 7, 2020

Editor: Matt Nicholls – 0477 450 558 | editor@capeyorkweekly.com.au

TMR call NESTS PROTECTED ON MINING LEASE pontoon meeting By MATT NICHOLLS

A member of the Rio Tinto land and sea management team inspects a turtle laying her eggs on the beach near the Amrun mine ship loader.

Turtles return

By MATT NICHOLLS

MINING companies don’t usually get linked with positive environmental outcomes, but that’s exactly what has happened at Rio Tinto’s Amrun bauxite mine in Cape York. A dedicated effort to kill feral pigs in the areas around Weipa and Aurukun has resulted in an explosion of turtle hatchings on the beaches around the mine. When Rio Tinto first began monitoring turtle hatchings along the beaches near Amrun, there was just one successful hatching in 2016. Following a targeted effort to reduce the number of feral pigs in the

area, that number has risen each year, with up to 100 nest hatchings expected in 2020. “By reducing the number of feral pigs we have made a significant and positive impact on the increase in turtle hatchlings,” said Rio Tinto Weipa’s land and sea management coordinator Linda Wells. “Our ongoing monitoring and data collection shows that there has been an increase from just one hatched turtle nest in 2016 to 61 hatched nests in 2019. “In 2020 we recorded the earliest hatchings to date, which is a good indication of success.” Continued – Page 2

A baby turtle makes its way to the water.

THE Department of Transport and Main Roads will hold a public meeting in Weipa this week to discuss its plans to build a new pontoon at the Evans Landing boat ramp. Following a line of questioning from Cape York Weekly, as well as pressure from the Weipa Town Authority, TMR will fly up one of its top men from Brisbane to discuss the plans with locals. The state government sent out mixed messages last week, first stating that its new pontoon design had been created in consultation with local boat users. It then conceded it was willing to discuss the options at a public forum. When Cape York Weekly went to press on Sunday night, no date had been set for the meeting. Weipa Town Authority chairman Michael Rowland said it was premature to build a new pontoon without consulting the public and local boat users. The Evans Landing boat ramp has been plagued with problems since it was built five years ago. Designed without community consultation, it was clear to boat users that a lack of protection from the south-easterly winds would make the ramp and the existing pontoon unsafe for use. The community has been at loggerheads with the state government ever since. Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said TMR did consult with locals. “In preparing the tender, TMR reviewed and costed two waveprotecting site configurations,” the MP said in an email. Continued – Page 2


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