Queensland environment department reverses exclusion zone decision for Broken Hill Gold project

The Queensland Department of Environment and Science has agreed to eliminate a heritage protection exclusion zone that surrounded significant Indigenous cultural sites at the Alice River gold project, located about 300 kilometres north‑west of Cairns in Cape York. The zone, which prohibited any activity within 100 metres of the sites, was originally established to safeguard the area while the mining operation, run by Broken Hill Gold Limited, sought approvals.

The decision follows a court action filed by traditional owners who argued they were not given an opportunity to be heard before the department reversed its earlier refusals of the mining company’s proposal to remove the buffer. The court documents reveal that the environment department changed its position after initially rejecting the company’s amendment requests on two occasions.

Broken Hill Gold Limited disclosed that its corporate sustainability manager, Shane Goodwin, was involved in drafting the original environmental authority applications and communicated with the office of Environment Minister Andrew Powell about the proposed amendment. Goodwin, a former president of the Queensland Young Liberals and former campaign manager for a 2024 LNP candidate, holds 1.352 million shares in the company. He stated he no longer holds any formal role with the Liberal National Party and that his other activities were unrelated to the exclusion‑zone application.

The mining company asserted that the amendment process was handled through established regulatory channels and that Goodwin’s involvement did not influence the outcome. The ABC noted that it does not allege any wrongdoing by Goodwin or the minister, but highlighted the close association between the individual and the LNP. The environment department’s reversal has sparked debate over the balance between resource development and protection of Indigenous heritage.

Traditional owners continue to seek recognition of their cultural rights in the area, while the state government maintains that the decision complies with existing legal and procedural frameworks. The case underscores ongoing tensions between mining interests, heritage protection, and political affiliations in Queensland.