A "David and Goliath" Refuge Nature Battle

When is a Nature Refuge not a Nature Refuge? When it is called 'Bimblebox' and Clive Palmer wants it! All was revealed at a recent presentation at the University of Queensland on Friday.

'Bimblebox' is located in the new 'mega' mine area of the Galilee Basin and in 2003 a Nature Refuge Agreement covering this porperty was signed with the Queensland Government. This agreement allowed for  a model to be set up for the co-existence of cattle grazing and nature preservation, innovative management to be developed to sustain the biodiversity of the area and research projects with organisations such as CSIRO, Queensland Herbariam and Land and Water Australia to be undertaken.

As for the Nature Refuge status of permanent conservation to the area, this only restricts the landowners clearing issues, but should a mining company such as Palmer's "Waratah Coal" or Hancock's "Alpha Coal Mine" decide to undertake exploration, clearing is not an issue. Already there are 20 exploration holes on 'Bimblebox' which have caused damage including the seeding of Buffel Grass that had previously been weeded out. Of course this damage is nothing in comparison to what will happen should the "Waratah" mine go ahead with 52% of the land being subjected to open cut mining with the other 48% mined underground.

Bimblebox today and potentially tomorrow (Care2.com)

Paola Cassino, one of the owners of 'Bimblebox', said she was expecting to be offered plenty of money, which the owners would refuse. "Waratah" have previously indicated that they may propose a land offset, but Paola sees this as, "a joke," as it took the family over 10 years just to restore undergrowth to the present property. Therefore there is no comparable land available to off set nor the short-term ability to rehabilitate other land.

There is also Native Title over the area and "Waratah Coal" are negotiating with the Wangan and Jagalingou people, however Adrian Burragubba said, "The mining company shows no respect," and the recommendation will be to reject any overtures made by them. They want to preserve the area for future generations as it is, "part of our stories and dreaming and we need to protect them."

Another interested party in 'Bimblebox's' preservation is Russell Fairfax a researcher from Queensland Herbarium who is collating information on  the fauna of the area as well as studying the implications of fire and grazing on the areas biodiversity. He sees the area as unique and a true representation of  Desert Uplands.

How things have changed from 2007 when the then Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism, Lindy Nelson-Carr wrote, "May I offer my congratulations to the many landholders and staff who have played a part in helping to reach this significant milestone—more than half a million hectares of Queensland’s diverse natural and cultural heritage is now protected under the Nature Refuge Program." Now in 2011 it is a bird and not the Queensland Government that may offer the protection.

The Black Throated Finch, Southern (Poephila cincta cincta), an endangered species has both been sighted and recorded on the refuge, which places pressure on Tony Burke MP, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to intervene. His responsibility is to ensure that there are no environmental adverse affects on this bird population.

Black Throated Finch (Southern) recording


Alternatively for opponents there is the submission route with these due for lodgement by the 7 November.


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