Gold Coast development: Mayor demands investigation into halting water mining

Demands for a review into commercial water mining in the Gold Coast Hinterland have been made by the city’s mayor who says he is “extremely uneasy” about the issue.

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate says he is growing increasingly concerned about water mining in the city’s Hinterland.

The Mayor, in a social media post, has revealed he has ordered an investigation into the issue after being contacted by concerned ratepayers.

Cr Tate’s concern about the issue is so great he has written to the State Government asking for a review.

HINTERLAND RESIDENTS OUTRAGED BY WATER MINING

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I have recently contacted on social media by a number of people concerned about the proposal for another water extraction business on Springbrook Mountain,” he said.

“As I have been looking into it I have been getting more and more concerned.

“What has shocked me is the actual taking of water – a natural resource – is apparently not of interest to the State Government.

“It seems the State Government have never mapped Springbrook as a ‘State Interest’ for natural resources and thus has no objection with taking the water.

CONCERN OVER WATER MINERS

Close-up Pouring glass of water from a plastic bottle on blue background

“Yesterday I wrote to Minister Lynham on the matter asking for the State to review the mapping of State Interests to address this very matter.”

It comes as council prepares to consider approving a third commercial groundwater extraction facility in the Hinterland on Springbrook’s Repeater Station Road.

An application is currently before council and it is expected to be discussed in coming months.

Springbrook is famous for its natural beauty. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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Cr Tate said council’s decision would be based purely on planning grounds.

“All Council planners can assess is the application in terms of the new water extraction business operating in Springbrook but not the key issue of whether or not we want our precious water to be extracted for other uses, such as bottle water, out of this feeder area of the Hinze Dam,” he said.

“I am extremely uneasy about approving any more commercial bottled water extraction activities in one of our main Hinze Dam catchments for the City.”

Public consultation on the proposed commercial groundwater extraction development application opened last week.

It will run until October 1.

Area councillor Glenn Tozer said on social media he had been contacted by a large number of people about the issue.