Australia Zoo Irwin rift deepens
9:23a.m. 30th September 2008
Terri Irwin and her father-in-law, Bob Irwin, disagree whether mining should be carried out at the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve by Cape Alumina which has further deepened the rift between the pair.
According to a report by The Australian newspaper, Bob Irwin apparently disagrees with his daughter-in-law about the future of the reserve which was purchased with a government grant.
Mr Irwin gave the property to his son and Ms Irwin before Steve was killed by a stingray in 2006.
While Ms Iriwin is appealing a court decision to allow Cape Alumina to mine part of the 135,000ha property, Mr Irwin sees advantages to allowing the extraction of bauxite to go ahead.
"My view is that everybody benefits in some way from mining and there's not much point saying that you can't have it," Mr Irwin said.
A document obtained by The Australian under Freedom of Information laws list reasons Ms Irwin believes the mine should be stopped.
Among the reasons is Australia Zoo's commitment to wildlife.
She also says preserving the area would be a good show of public support for conservation.
Cape Alumina CEO Paul Messenger said in response to the document that Bob Irwin had told him orphaned koalas he took to the zoo almost died of starvation.
There was no suggestion that a clinic at the zoo that cares for sick or injured wildlife had contributed to the plight of the koalas and Mr Irwin could not recall the conversation with Dr Messenger.
Mr Irwin did recall discussing the mine with Dr Messenger.
Recent Comments
The article says "According to the documents obtained by The Australian newspaper, Bob Irwin apparently disagrees with his daughter-in-law about the future of the Steve Irwin Wild Life Reserve."
Yet they then admit the ONLY "document obtained by The Australian under Freedom of Information laws list reasons Ms Irwin believes the mine should be stopped."
So in reality the views of Bob Irwin are reported, not by a document as claimed, but from the mining CEO Paul Messenger.
Oh, I see.
Compete bulls**t really, isn't it?
Ed. The article has now been corrected.
oh, i forgot that Steve was killed by a stingray in 2006, can you remind me again in the next 'Irwin' article. Please? NOT!
You also might want to correct your typo in the fourth para "While Ms Iriwn"
"everybody benefits in some way from mining" - not really, if the mining goes ahead you can say good bye to another water resource, a number of animals and a unique eco-system. Enough of the rule by the mighty dollar. Time to bring some sense to the matter.
I think the worse thing about all of this is that they aren't trying to keep Steve's dream alive and growing, but fighting over who has the power and money.
-Sara, World Zoo Today
www.worldzootoday.com
But if she and her Zoo are "Wildlife Warrior's" how come there hasn't been a peep out of them regarding the plight of the two unique threatened species and their environment, in Australia Zoo's own back yard. The Mary Valley Turtle and the Lung Fish, both in danger from the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam.
A case of not biting the hand that feeds perhaps; even if they are environmental vandals?
"Widlife Warrior" My ****!!!
Say whaaaaaat? Which Government?
There goes your credibility.
It is a very sad day indeed when a mining company - for money - is willing to try to 'divide and rule' and try and pit a father-in-law against a daughter-in-law. Every family has its own internal issues that aren't anyone else's business and it is very disappointing to see a company try and use anything they can to make Terri Irwin look bad.
She isn't gaining anything out of this, she is in fact, probably spending a lot of her own money trying to protect a piece of land gifted to her for protection (in the first place). I understand that there are business interests involved and there is a lot of money involved, but our planet matters too. When are the people running companies going to wake up and start thinking about their children/grandchildren's planet and not just their own? We need to start thinking about our planet and kudos to Terri Irwin for setting such a fine example. We all need to stand up and realize what we are losing may not come back for hundreds/thousands of yrs or more, we aren't the only species on the planet that matters. We need to start treating our planet with kindness - we are perhaps the only species on the planet with such a gift for insight yet a subsequent lack of foresight.
As for the comment of orpaned koalas dying of starvation....well I find that very hard to believe.
Also Terri Irwin owns the land it's her decision and she's in charge of Australia Zoo so the Zoo's matters regarding his are also her decision too.
She has to be realistic about this but she seems pessimistic and succombing to unjust pressure from mining company.
It is not a neccesary devloment and would be illegal or the mining company to develop on it.
There would be endangered animals all over this land....things like this cause animals to extinct! Surely this is not the wildlife message Terri Irwin wants to portray to the public.
Also it's illegal to intentially or purposefully kill endangered animals which would happen with mining.
There would probably be endangerd Flora too.
With some legal help Terri can save the reserve easily in law.
Have faith and realism Terri Irwin!!
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