Council set to vote on water mine proposal

GOLD Coast councillors have been advised to reject an application for a new water mining venture in the city’s hinterland.

Council agenda documents reveal bureaucrats reviewing the proposed site at Repeater Station Road Springbrook believe the development would have potential short-term and long-term impacts on the surrounding area. The commercial groundwater extraction site proposed by Hoffmann Drilling Superannuation Fund could extract 16 mega litres of groundwater per year.

The council vote on the proposed development will take place tomorrow.

Concerns listed by council town planners include impacts on the environmental features of the area by regular truck movements. The advice to council also states the development does not comply with the water resource catchment road an could potentially effect the vegetation and natural process of the area.

Water mining ventures on the Gold Coast have come under major scrutiny in recent weeks as a number of waterfalls in the hinterland stop running.

In a post online area Councillor Glenn Tozer said he didn’t believe the area was the right place for the industry.

“Having now read the report, the advice outlines a number of elements of the application that are inconsistent with the city plan.”

“Principally, I don’t think Springbrook is a place for extractive industries like water mining.”

Ceris Ash from Save Springbrook Waterfalls said residents of the area would be “elated” if council knocks back the application.

The group are also calling for further oversight of similar operations on the mountain.

“We do hold concerns that the regulations around the two water mines are not tight enough to protect our special environment,” Ms Ash said.