A PRIVATE member’s bill that proposes sand mining on North Stradbroke Island ends by the end of 2024 has been rejected in a parliamentary report.
However, the finance and administration committee, which authored the report, could not agree on whether the Environment Minister’s bill, to end mining by 2019, should be passed.
The report, tabled by the committee on Tuesday, follows an inquiry by the committee into two bills, a draft economic transition strategy and worker transition plans.
The committee recommended that a bill introduced by Dalrymple MP Shane Knuth in October should not be passed.
Mr Knuth’s bill, the North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability (Renewal of Mining Leases) Amendment Bill 2015, proposes ending sand mining by the end of 2024, but allows miner Sibelco to remain on the island to rehabilitate mine sites until the end of 2029.
The other bill considered by the committee was the North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2015, introduced by Environment Minister Steven Miles in December.
Dr Miles's bill aims to end mining by 2019 by repealing the 2013 amendments made to the North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability Act 2011.
The report states the committee agreed that the evidence presented in the inquiry, as it related to both bills, should be considered by parliament.
Currently, legislation provides for sand mining on the island to continue up to December 31, 2035.
While government members of the committee supported the minister’s bill, non-government members said the best outcome was for sand mining to continue until 2035.
Committee chair MP Peter Russo said in his forward to the report the previous government’s changes to the former Labor government’s legislation had been confusing for island residents.
“This not only altered the agreed timetable for the cessation of sand mining on the island, but also interrupted forward planning and the progression of key activities to support the island’s economic transition,” he said.
