Environmental Management
Before mining commences, vegetation and fauna surveys are conducted to identify the species present in the area which will be mined. As part of CRL's commitment to striving for best practice in environmental management, the company also carries out environmental monitoring in a range of other areas including water, geo-technical and topographical aspects of its operations, prior to and throughout the mining process.
 When mining has been completed, the dunes are progressively reconstructed to approximate the previously assessed pre-mining shape. The topsoil, removed and stockpiled prior to mining, is then spread across the dunes. Native seeds collected by hand from CRL's Island leases are sown together with a temporary cover crop of sorghum. Brushmatting, windbreaks and a sand stabiliser are then used to control erosion.
CRL's commitment to environmental management continues after the seeding and planting is complete. The rehabilitated land is monitored to assess its self-sustainability and repopulation by native wildlife.
Product Uses
Mineral sands are used in a wide variety of products, ranging from household items in daily use to high technology applications. Rutile and ilmenite are used to make titanium dioxide, a high quality, white pigment used in paints, plastic and cosmetics as well as titanium metal for the aerospace industry and for the production of surgical equipment, such as pacemakers. Finely ground zircon is used in glazes for tiles, dinnerware and other ceramics. It is also used in computer and television screens.
North Stradbroke Island is one of a chain of sand islands which extends along the coast of South East Queensland. The Island's high, stable sand mass is ideal for the development of two important industries - tourism and mineral sand mining.
Consolidated Rutile Limited (CRL) is one of the world's major producers of heavy mineral sands, producing around 80,000 tonnes of rutile, 60,000 tonnes of zircon and 150,000 tonnes of ilmenite annually. Exporting to 33 countries, CRL has a total annual turnover in excess of $100 million and employs over 230 people.
Mining and Processing
Mining is carried out by dredge floating on an artificial pond. A submerged rotating cutter is used to loosen the sand which is then pumped through pipelines to a floating concentrator at a rate of approximately 3,000 tonnes per hour. In the concentrator, a gravity separation process using a series of water fed spirals extracts the heavy mineral sands (about 1% of the mined material). As the ilmenite contains iron, it can be separated out from the rest of the concentrate using Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separators (WHIMS). The residue sand is stacked behind the pond to fill previously mined areas.
Every week, up to five 1,800 tonne loads of mineral concentrates are transported by barge to the Dry Mill at Pinkenba for final separation. The mineral concentrates are passed through further gravity separation and then dried in a kiln before electrostatic separation and final separation using high powered magnets. Some of the concentrates are packaged in paper sacks and Polythene bags to avoid contamination during shipping.
Some other options…
Take a 4WD tour or drive yourself, and enjoy discovering the more remote areas of the island.
Fishing Charters - Take a tour out into the open waters surrounding North Stradbroke Island in search of the big catch!
Sandboarding - Experience an exhilarating sandboard ride down one of Stradbroke's dunes. Have fun trying this new craze, which has a close parallel to snowboarding.
Seakayaking - Kayak through the open waters surrounding the island and you might even be lucky enough to spot a whale, dolphin or turtle.
Diving & Snorkelling - North Stradbroke Island has some of the best dive sites in South East Queensland, just a few hundred metres from the shore. The reefs surrounding Point Lookout are home to turtles, dolphins, whales, manta rays and reef fish. Try snorkelling or scuba diving or take a trip out on a glass bottom boat.
Ropes Course - Test your skills and get the adrenaline pumping on this challenging outdoors course (minimum numbers apply)
Golf - Don't miss your regular round of golf, just play it island-style!
Bowls - Why not enjoy a game of bowls?
Why not visit the local art gallery & historical museum?
Scenic walks can also be taken around the North Gorge Headlands and out to Blue Lake.
Point Lookout
Situated at the northern tip of the island, Point Lookout is Queensland's most easterly point. The township is located 20km from Dunwich and 19km from Amity Point.
Point Lookout is actually a series of beaches and headlands that can be easily explored by foot. Walking is a way of life at the Point and there is always something to explore. Many enjoy the simple pleasure of walking the four kilometres of beach between Frenchman's Beach and Adder Rock.
The fine, white sand of the beaches is punctuated by rocky outcrops and headlands, some with tidal rockpools. The view to the island's southern tip - Jumpinpin showcases Main Beach's 32km stretch of wide sand beaches and surf, ideal for island-style camping, swimming and fishing.
A highlight and a must for all visitors is the North Gorge Headlands Walk. The view over the Gorge can only be described as breathtaking. It is the perfect vantage point for spotting turtles, dolphins and manta-rays year round. From June to November, whale watchers can view the annual migration of the humpback whales.
Accommodation at Point Lookout includes a hotel, resorts, holiday units, backpacker hostels and camping grounds. Most accommodation is within easy walking distance of superb beaches. There is a range of relaxed outdoor cafes and eateries where you can enjoy a cappuccino or a cold drink. Everyday items are available from the local butchery, bakery, chemist, newsagent and convenience stores.
Enjoy the surf beaches
The island has a range of beaches which are suitable for safe Swimming, spectacular surfing and great fishing all year round.
Main Beach and Cylinder Beach are the most popular beaches at Point Lookout, and are patrolled every weekend from September to April by qualified lifesavers from the Point Lookout Surf Lifesaving Club. These beaches are also patrolled Monday to Friday during school holidays.
Main Beach stretches for 32kms of unspoilt sand, dunes and surf. Main Beach is always popular with boardriders and bodysurfers who enjoy the big swells. The headland is the best vantage point for watching the surfing action and spotting dolphins.
Cylinder Beach is popular with families, due to its gentle waves and tidal beach lagoon. Cylinder Beach is also a favourite with surfers when the conditions are right.
Deadman's Beach and Frenchman's Beach are secluded spots, nestled between the North Gorge and Cylinder Beach. These beaches are great places to explore the rockpools where you can see small fish, anemones, shells and crabs.
On the western side of the island, Amity Point and Dunwich offer sandy beaches and calm water for safe swimming and great fishing.
Discover Dunwich
The rich Aboriginal history of North Stradbroke Island centres around Dunwich, home of the Nunukul, Nughie and Goenpil Aboriginal tribes. You can learn more about Aboriginal hunting methods, bush tucker, artifacts and the island's history by taking an authentic and informative walking tour of Dunwich with a local Aboriginal guide. Tickets for The Goompi Trail ($12 adults, $5 children) can be purchased from the Visitors Information Centre in Dunwich. The Goompi Trail departs at 10am Monday to Friday, or other times by arrangement. Bookings are essential.
You could also explore the history of the town by taking a free self-guided historical walk around Dunwich. The walk winds its way past convict relics and graves dating back to shipwrecks in the 1800s. Walk guides are available from the Visitors Information Centre. The Dunwich Cemetery (One Mile) gives visitors a fascinating insight into the island's past.
Fishing off the jetty and swimming in the safe, salt water enclosure are favourite pastimes among both locals and holiday makers.
Myora Springs, 4kms along East Coast Road, is well worth a visit and has a grassy picnic area and swimming hole. Myora Springs is a pristine source of natural spring water surrounded by a small tropical forest.
The North Stradbroke Island Visitors Information Centre (Ph: 07 3409 9555) is also at Dunwich. The Visitors Information Centre is open seven days a week and can assist you with information about the island, camping bookings and 4WD permits. The Visitors Information Centre also has a range of local arts, crafts and souvenirs.
The Dunwich Museum (Welsby Street) offers an impressive display of photographs, items retrieved from shipwrecks, and information about early tourist ventures and the sand mining industry. The Museum is open on Wednesday and Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
For those not so interested in history, Dunwich still has a lot to offer. For the day-tripper, Dunwich offers an island experience just 30 minutes by water taxi from the mainland. A picnic beneath the massive camphor-laurel trees on the foreshore is an ideal way to spend an afternoon. There are also several eateries and shops.
Relaxing Amity Point
Amity Point has the tranquil atmosphere of a small, seaside fishing village. Trawlers still tie up at the jetty to offload the night's catch of fresh prawns, crabs and fish-ready for the tables of local restaurants and shops.
Anglers, boat owners and families love Amity Point's relaxing atmosphere, sandy beaches, shade and easy access to the glistening waters and fantastic fishing in Moreton Bay. The jetty is ideal for fishing, both on the incoming and outgoing tides. Friendly pelicans inhabit the crystal clear waters edging the shore. A swimming enclosure offers safe swimming at all times, and the crystal clear water is ideal for snorkelling.
Freshwater lakes
Stradbroke's lakes include Blue Lake, Brown Lake, the Keyholes, Eighteen Mile Swamp and a series of small lagoons.
Blue Lake is the perfect place to take a refreshing dip in the middle of summer. Blue Lake National Park (501 ha) offers a quiet haven for visitors to appreciate one of the island's freshwater lakes. The Aboriginal name for Blue Lake is 'Karboora' which means "silent pool". Early morning or dusk is the best time to see wildlife such as forest birds, goannas and other reptiles. Careful observers may see the more rare and extremely shy wildlife, such as the golden wallaby.
To access Blue Lake, drive 8km along the sealed Trans Island Road from Dunwich. Conventional vehicles must be left in the carpark at the entrance to the park, and passengers will need to walk 2.7 kilometres to the lake. Four wheel drive vehicles can follow a sand track 2.5 kilometres closer to the lake and walk the remaining 200 metres. To protect the delicate ecosystem, no camping or pets are allowed in the National Park.
For a different freshwater experience, Brown Lake is easy to get to by conventional vehicle and has amenities such as picnic tables and BBOS. The natural bushland surrounding the lake is home to many delicate wildflowers, including small ground orchids. The Aboriginal name for Brown Lake is "Bummeira". To access Brown Lake, drive 3.5kms from Dunwich along the sealed Trans Island Road.
The Keyholes are a freshwater system of mysterious lakes and lagoons which stretch over 4.5 kilometres. It is a perfect spot to view the island's massive open air aviary of more than 250 species of native birds.
Wonder at our Humpback whales. And other marine life
The rocky outcrops of Point Lookout which overlook the Pacific Ocean are the perfect spots for land-based whale watching
From June to November each year, the majestic humpback whales pass the North Gorge Headland on their annual migration from Antarctica to their calving grounds near the Great Barrier Reef. While the calves are still quite young, they begin their southern return journey passing close to the coast.
The North Gorge offers a breathtaking seascape and when the tide and sea conditions are right, air whistles through a blowhole-just like a spouting whale! The best vantagepoints along the Headlands are within easy walking distance of the major resorts and camping grounds at Point Lookout.
You can spot dolphins, turtles and manta rays from the North Gorge Headlands and other vantage points on the island all year round
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