By John Mikkelsen
GOVERNMENTS change but the politics surrounding mining and
resource developments don’t, according to the author of a controversial new book about to be launched in
Gladstone.
‘Road to
Exploitation’ subtitled ‘Political Capture by Mining in Queensland’ follows
years of pains-taking research and writing by long-term environmental activist and former Mt Larcom
resident, Alec Lucke.
It will be released at an invitational
and public book launch party at the Gladstone Art Gallery, 2 pm Friday
(July 19). Lucke describes his work as partly autobiographical, and human
interest. He said yesterday:
“This
historical account and social commentary on mining and industrialisation
is a once in a lifetime publication.
Author and activist, Alec Lucke.
“The book
authenticates not only landholders’ concerns about coal and CSG's unacceptable
impacts upon their strategic cropping land and aquifers, but also concerns
about damage to Gladstone Harbour's ecology through examples of sweetheart
deals entered into by Cabinet that bound the government's regulatory and
administrative agencies to policies of minimum compliance, lack of regulatory
enforcement, false benchmarking of the science and eventually, abandonment of
co-existence with behind the scenes resignation of unavoidable impacts.
“The
book's contents and documentation justify the title and demonstrate this
principle: Capture executive government in Queensland and the regulatory and administrative
processes are captured as well”.
Lucke says the book serves as both an
historical record and a
‘precautionary manual’. By example, it
authenticates current concerns about the Coal Seam Gas and Gladstone
Harbour controversies while delving back to Mt Larcom district’s pioneering era and the later
development of limestone mining in
the 1970’s.
“The Mt
Larcom Mining Protest Group opposed the entry of an open cut limestone mine and
cement facility into their dairying and farming district.
“With the
limestone resource prioritised for cement manufacture and wider industrial
applications, mining began in 1979 and the protest group ceased to function in
the early 1980s”.
From
1980 to 1995, the book provides social commentary on industrialisation, local politics, regional organisations
and individual public profiles.
“In 1995,
the government cancelled Queensland Cement Ltd's coral dredging leases in
Moreton Bay and committed to an incentive package for trebling of the East End
Mine, a railway line and new cement kiln at Fisherman's landing.
“A
fast-tracked Impact Assessment
Study for a $220m expansion
triggered the formation of the
East End Mine Action Group (EEMAG) and coincided with rookie Independent Member for Gladstone Hon Liz Cunningham’s balance of power support for the
Borbidge coalition government.
“With the water monitoring data
collected but not analysed for 15 years, EEMAG challenged the State's
pre-emptive approvals and as controversy raged, local real estate values and
saleability collapsed as landholders contested the science and fought for compensation and replacement
water supplies under 'make good' provisions.
“This
narrative explores the dynamics of protest groups and reflects upon the dogged
persistence and commendable social justice ideals of experts independent of the
government or company whose professional opinions were officially disregarded.
“It tells
of landholder's conflict with industrial development and their distress as
their precious water was discharged
continuously as waste; it outlines the group's philosophical commitments,
negotiations and legal and political dilemma as they won replacement water
supplies and sought recognition that their small farms, lifestyles and the
environment were irreversibly damaged. It chronicles the demise of farming and
the ironic circumstances that eventually restored district values…
“The
EEMAG / East End Mine / Regulating Agencies dispute continues with the
interests of the Gladstone industrial model and a mine privately owned by the
world's largest cement company placed ahead of other stakeholders, the
district's progress and the environment,” Lucke claims.
His
narrative in print and ebook versions quotes from 170 documents many obtained under FOI, and provides
electronic links to 74 otherwise publicly unavailable files.
