Queensland conservationists call for river-mining ban to protect Great Barrier Reef

State mines minister rejects two applications at reserves west of Cape Tribulation which campaigners say should set a precedent The “archaic” practice of mining rivers in north Queensland is making a mockery of Australia’s key policy to protect the Great Barrier Reef, wasting multimillion-dollar efforts to cut runoff pollution, its opponents say.“Instream” mining in Queensland, the only state still allowing the excavation of rivers for gold, tin and silver, is unlea