AUSTRALIAN CAVER NO 151 Australian Caver Contents From the President 2 A Brief History 3 AUSTRALIAN CAVER ISSUE No The Early History of Central Queensland Cement 4 151 -May 2000 Some Memories of the Mt Etna Campaign in the 1970's 5 Overview of the Campaign 7 Editor (this issue only) Direct Action 13 Central Queensland Speleological The Legality of the Campaign 16 Society Inc Comment by Norm Pershouse 17 Comment by Andrew Robson 18 Please send articles for issue 153 to: The Reconciliation 19 Editor: Comment by Kerry Hamilton 20 Geoff Crossley Queensland Cement & Lime - Environmental Report 21 Records 22 Reconciliation Speech 23 CQSS Involvement 26 ·Australian Caver" is published quarterly in the months of February, May, August and November by the Australian Photograph Acknowedgments Speleological Federation Incorporated. PO Box 388 BROADWAY NSW 2f:IJ7 Front Cover - Pre-mining - Supplied courtesy of the Queensland Museum Current Mining Aerial Photo - Supplied courtesy of Kershaw & Co This work is ASF Copyright. Apart from any fair dealings for the purpose of private Inside Front Cover - study, research, criticism or review (Top) Direct Action -Filling Drill Holes- Morning Bulletin permitted under the Copyright Act, no part (Bottom left) Kerry Hamilton Blockade - Morning Bulletin may be reproduced without the written (Bottom Right) Mt Etna Action Book - Blockade consent of the publishers and the inclusion and acknowledgment of the Back Cover- (Top) Rehabilitation Blast- Supplied courtesy of the Morning source. Bulletin, Rockhampton (Bottom Left) Tree Planting by Horticulturists and 2"d generation ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOME CQSS members (Luke Berrill & Owen Kavanagh) (Bottom Right Top) Reconciliation Ceremony (from left to right)­ Advertising rates are as follows: Chris White, Manager Pacific Lime; Bill Townsend, Managing $200 per full page within the text Director, QCL; Peter Berrill, CQSS President) Displaying NHT $1 00 per half page Grant Certificates $70 per third page (Bottom Right Bottom) - Newly erected Sign at Cammoo $50 per quarter page entrance $35 per sixth page Inside Back Cover - Composite of Reconciliation Ceremony $250 per full page inside back cover $300 per full page inside front cover $350 per full page back cover $1 00 per full page fly sheet Advertisement within the caving community will cost: UPCOMING EVENTS $70 per full page $35 per half page Trog-Up 2000 including Speleosports and Caver's Dinner Smaller sizes available upon request. For (NSW) upfront payments on a series of four advertisements, a 10% discount shalt apply. NSW Speleological Council Meeting- 14 October 2000 The views expressed in the Australian 2001: A Cave Odyssey- 2~ ASF Biennial Conference Caver are not necessarily those of the editor or of the ASF.AustraUan 28 December 2000- 3 January 2001 at Bathurst NSW Speleological Society Inc. Speleo Brazil 2001 -International Conference of Speleology July 2001 at Brazilia, Brazil Please note our new Editor from Issue 153 - Welcome to Geofl Crossely 1 From the President Due to old age, failing memories and in their caps•. The politics took all of I From the President perhaps just not wanting to recall my energies to deal with. But what certain events, some information my has been really disappointing is the Earlier on I had intended to make not be exactly correct. For that we criticism and backstabbing I received, beg your forgiveness. from those who are supposed to be "From the Preside~' a regular segment in the Australian Caver. on our side. However, in August 1998, I entered Saturday, 27 Novem ber1999 - was into reconciliation talks with the a day unprecedented in Australia's As I said previously, the reconciliation Cement Company over the Mt Etna environmental history. It was the day had to be right and this placed me in dispute. that CQSS and QCL- PacifiC Lime a position of extreme responsibility. (previously CQ Cement, the name The talks consumed me for the For the next 16 months, my life was has been changed to hide and period and some said that I had totally consumed by the reconciliation protect the guilty), reconciled the Mt become obsessed with it. To those and there was very little or no time for Etna Campaign. It has been critics, of course I became obsessed, anything else including, at times, my Australia's longest running it was at times, the only way that I family. My presidential duties had to conservation campaign involving could find the energies to continue. wait. During that period I was carried every major conservation The only way that I could find to and fully supported by a very hard organisation in Australia but at the make this reconciliation right, and on working and devoted Executive. same time spearheaded by the the day, Saturday 27 November Wlhout their support, I would not be caving movement. 1999, I'm sure that all those who President of ASF today. attended would agree, "it was The reconciliation followed 16 months right", in fact, it was "damn near During that period, they knew their of negotiations between CQSS and perfect". responsibilities and the direction in PacifiC Lime. I was approached in which we were headed and continued July 1998, by the new Company To share the day with CQSS, there down that path without my Manager, Chris White, who said that were cavers and friends from supervision. I would like to say a they wanted to reconcile the issue. Chillagoe, Mackay, Rockhampton, special "thank you•, to those My report on those talks is in this Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra. Executive members: Peter Dykes, issue. The reconciliation, if it went CQSS's Solicitor, Stephen Comino, Chris Riley, Angus Macoun, Heather ahead, had to be right. But what was his wife Penelope and daughter Jefferies, Jill Rowling, Keven Cocks, right? We had $50,000 still held in Maria were also there. There were Phil Lardner, Harry Nagle, Arthur security and had an obligation to see also many supporters and staff from Clarke and John Dunkley. that it was spent responsibly. National Parks. This edition of Australian Caver is a So many people had been involved Some of the above comments have Mt Bna Special, edited by CQSS. and many had contributed to the now been personal and may seem to be $50,000. The talks were held 'in giving myself " a pat on the back". I (I now change hats and speak as confidence', involving myself and one am not looking for any "mickey CQSS P~r~sident) other CQSS member, Noel Sands. I mouse badges", but I take this particularly chose Noel because of opportunity to answer my critics. We wanted to edit this edition to his long-term involvement and he Some of the comments were made commemorate the campaign and in held the position of CQSS treasurer. I behind my back by those who should our own small way say "thank you" wanted to do the right thing by know better. The day was great and it to all those many people who everyone but soon found myself in an was a fitting end to a long and bitter contributed and gave what they impossible situation. dispute. could, to help save the caves of Mt Etna, over the past 37 years. Since the beginning, I had been in CQSS and PacifiC Lime now share a Because of the amount of copy, constant contact with CQSS solicitor position on the Mt Etna Caves CQSS decided that this edition will Stephen Comino, asking and taking National Park Advisory Committee. consist entirely of material relating to his advice. He saw the situation I was As a member of that Committee, I sit Mt Bna. All other copy received will getting into and advised me that the opposite PacifiC Lime Manager, Chris be forwarded on to the new editor. money held in security had been White, advising on the future of a given, knowing that it may be lost and National Park, which is a direct result In the beginning we had an idea of ''that I was under no obligation to of the conflict. what we wanted to say and what anyone", to return that money. His message we wanted to convey. instructions to me were to negotiate In the beginning the first stage of the However, when we started with the Company whatever outcome Park was a result of a financial researching and writing we soon I saw as appropriate. contribution by CQSS and the now found that one incident was related to defunct University of Queensland many others and in depth Throughout the 16 months and right Speleological Society and now the explanations were needed for each up until the last day the reconciliation, end has also been as a direct result event. We were always very aware of was always under threat. There were of a financial contribution by CQSS. the great amount of documentation those who didn't want to see required to tell the Mt Etna Cammoo Caves, a «> hectare, Members d CQSS have every right Story/History, but now when we have $300,000 extension to the National to hold their heads high. attempted to do that, we realise that Park, proceed. Hence the need for the task is too mammoth for an the talks to be held under wraps. I I hope you enjoy this edition of the edition of the Australian Caver. had to coordinate between the Australian Caver, a Mt Etna Special. Company, the Landowner, CQSS, So, what we have attempted to do, is the Queensland Department of Peter Berrill to give an overview of the campaign, Environment and the Federal and just as we did throughout the Department of Environment. There campaign, whatever statements we were real threats at every corner.