The fresh water supply for Thursday Island and Horn Island in the Torres Strait could be under threat by reopening the former, worked-out gold mine on Horn Island
By Jim O’Toole
China is expanding its regional influence from Papua New Guinea to the Torres Strait since its acquisition of a large mining lease on Horn Island.
Alice Queen Ltd has owned the former gold mine since 2021 and with it is Thursday Island and Horn Island’s fresh water supply held in the open pit of the mine.
Andrew Buxton is listed as Managing Director of Alice Queen Ltd and Jianying Wang of Beijing is Chairman.
Zongze
On Monday September 16, 2024 the Chinese Consul General Dr Ruan Zongze toured the Torres Strait accompanied by State Labor Member for Cook, Cynthia Lui of Yam Island for an appraisal of potential investments.
According to Horn Island sources Ms Lui facilitated local contacts assisting the Consul and other interests seeking to develop a sea port on Hammond Island.
Ms Lui refused to answer a series of questions from Cairns News about the intentions of the Chinese companies in the Torres Strait.
Locals from the Torres Strait and Thursday Island believe that Brendan Waugh, a member of the Wymarra family has already negotiated a 99 year lease with Chinese interests over three Aboriginal Freehold titles which formed the former 211ha Pajinka Resort at the Tip of Cape York.
Indigenous leader Yodi Batzke and independent candidate for the seat of Mulgrave told Cairns News she had spent the past few days with close relatives from Thursday Island who expressed distrust of the recent Chinese foray into the Torres Strait.
Ms Batzke is a staunch supporter of a new North Queensland State and has questioned what resources a new entity would rely on if major assets have been sold to China.
“If we can’t protect our critical and strategic assets like the Tip and nearby islands then how will North Queensland ever perform economically?” she asked.
“My relatives are very worried about their fresh water supply from Horn Island which is contained in the disused pit of the Alice Queen mine.
“If the Chinese now control this water through the ownership of the mining lease what happens next?”
“If China gets a foothold we can kiss the lot goodbye.”
In 2019 China tried to acquire the Pajinka lease at the Tip of Cape York Peninsula but was thwarted by Member for Kennedy Bob Katter who mentioned the issue in federal parliament and took up the matter with then Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.
“Why would they want the most northern point of Australia? The closest point to Papua New Guinea,” asked Mr Katter at the time.
“There are numerous questions here and I would think the answers are pretty ugly.”
Mr Katter took the step of meeting with Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, who has the power to block such foreign investment if it were to proceed.
“Losing control of the Torres Straits would be a national security disaster,” Mr Katter said.
“They’ve already handed over the Port of Darwin and given away the Ord in Western Australia. Almost every big cattle aggregation is foreign owned.
“The defence and security of this nation is precipitation for extreme anger in the United States and, infinitely more importantly, for every Australian who is just simply fed up with watching day after day the sell off of their country.
“The suits are parading around saying isn’t this foreign investment marvellous, but one day they’ll wake up in a country that isn’t their own.”
Chinese Consul General Dr Ruan Zongze has been contacted for comment.
