E-mail to Dr Paul Messenger, Cape Alumina P/L CEO

15 April 2010

Good afternoon Mr Messenger,

Regarding Cape Alumina Pty Ltd’s proposed bauxite mine in the Wenlock River area of Cape York peninsula, when are you and Cape Alumina P/L going to start telling the public the truth about what your intentions really are?

If given permission to destroy this unique & irreplaceable wilderness area, one of the last great wilderness areas on earth, it is my understanding that Cape Alumina will:

• Dredge a channel at the mouth of the Wenlock near Port Musgrave to build a port for bulk carrier ships, instead of using an existing port facility that will be about the same distance away from your mine. In the process destroying valuable mangroves and a fragile sea floor.
• Through the constant movement of heavy vehicles from mine to port cause an untold amount of death and destruction to native wildlife through road kill. What will happen to wildlife you injure? Have you considered a fauna rehabilitation centre that you could fund?
• Pump water directly from the Wenlock River to the mine at the rate of 230 litres per second, about 4000 to 8000 megalitres per year over the mine’s estimated 15 year life span. A total of between 60 000 to 120 000 megalitres.
• Totally destroying the hydrology and resultant ecology of the area by removing the bauxite which acts as a giant water filter thereby giving the area the water quality it currently enjoys. I know you dispute this, but unless your Doctorate is related to the natural sciences I will take Professor Craig Franklin’s evidence on this matter over yours.
• Powering the entire site using fuel hungry generators, instead of utilising any form of renewable energy.
• Pumping fuel for the site through a 34 kilometre pipeline from the mouth of the Ducie River. Over the 15 year lifespan of the mine, what contingencies do you have in place in the case of a fuel leak?
• Expect and anticipate indirect impacts may occur as a result of your operation on the Ducie & Wenlock waterways.  What are these impacts?
• Operate an intensive mining operation in an area known for its high conservation values. Home to the likes of the rare Red Goshawk, Spear-tooth Shark, Dugong and a plethora of other native fauna.    

Cape Alumina Pty Ltd is a majority foreign owned company, therefore while some short term, transient fiscal benefit may occur locally, long term economic gains will be made by your foreign owned shareholders and Chinese aluminium operators (viz the Chinese Government).

The public are loud and clear on this issue and they do not want it to go ahead.  Terri Irwin’s petition was not ignored by the State Government, The Wilderness Society’s campaign is not a stunt and we have no plans to stop telling the public the truth.

Regards,

Michael

Save The Wenlock
www.SaveTheWenlock.com