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Category: Business, Economics and Finance / Regional / Community and Society / Mining Industry / Tourism / Rural Tourism

Concern for Straddie's economic future post-mining

Monday, 5 Sep 2016 08:47:31 | Nance Haxton

A fisherman tries his luck at Cylinder Headland on North Stradbroke Island (Giulio Saggin, file photo: ABC News)

Locals are concerned about the economic future of North Stradbroke Island, after the local sandmining company announced it would be restructuring ahead of the Queensland Government's planned 2019 mining phase-out.

Key points:

  • Queensland Government announced sandmining to be phased out by 2019
  • Sibelco announced a workforce restructure ahead of that time
  • $28 million strategy to help the transition away from mining

For years the island, near Brisbane, has been a well-loved tourist destination, but some locals have expressed doubt over whether tourism alone will be enough to sustain its economy.

The Queensland Government recently legislated that sandmining on Straddie (as it is known to many) would be phased out by 2019.

But the company responsible for sandmining on the island, Sibelco, announced that it would be restructuring its workforce ahead of that time.

In a statement the company cited a global downturn in mineral prices, combined with the looming closure of the mine, as the reason for cutting 30 local jobs and stopping production for three months.

Colin Battersby, the head of the local Chamber of Commerce, said businesses were trying to adjust.

"This has been going for five or six years now — on again, off again — now at least we know the certainty, we're working towards 2019," he said.

"We're rolling our sleeves up and getting on with it, trying to get smart and produce a good tourism product and present it well and have a great time."

The State Government has announced a $28 million strategy to help the island's transition away from mining.

Time to give Straddie a break: QYAC

The traditional owners, the Quandamooka people, who have connections to the region going back more than 20,000 years, said while mining had brought economic benefits to the island, it had also come at a cost.

Darren Burns, the joint management coordinator for the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC), said it was time to give the island a break.

"The sky's not going to fall, and we're just going to get on with our plans for the future," he said.

He said he could not deny the value of mining for the Indigenous community in the past.

"It gave Aboriginals a lifestyle that anyone could only dream of back in those days," he said.

"[It] supported our Aboriginal community right through to these recent times and put our Aboriginal community in the good stead that it's in.

"But in this day, with how long we are down the track, how much island is left unmined and that balance of conservation and sustainability, it's a foregone conclusion.

"Even a lot of the miners agree that it's time to move on."

Dave Thelander, a tour guide who has lived on Stradbroke Island on and off for more than 60 years, said the island "sells itself because of its beauty."

"When you go the beach, you look around and you can't see anything man-made."

Mr Thelander said he had seen a lot of changes during his time living on the island, but none more so than the end of sandmining after more than six decades.

"We're just going to have to deal with it because it is going to close, whether you think it's good or bad doesn't really matter, you just have to make a living somehow."

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