Mount Isa is a mining town located in about 1000 km west of Townsville in North Queensland, Australia. Xstrata, a giant Swiss Mining Company, owns the mine there.

The novelist Vance Palmer wrote in one of his books about Mount Isa: “There’s nothing much to catch the eye. It’s bone-dry country, twisted shrubs and spinifex, and the hills are mostly humps of rock where a goat would find it hard to pick up a feed. … “

Today Mount Isa has got the most highly mechanised mines in the world. It’s the world’s biggest single producer of silver and lead and it is amongst the world’s top ten for copper and zinc. It is also one of the few areas in the world where the four minerals are found in close proximity. As Australia’s largest underground mine, it has a daily output of around 35 000 tonnes of ore.

A recently released study found that too many children had too high blood lead levels. Children with blood lead levels of over 10 micrograms per decilitre are at serious risk of learning and behavioural difficulties. The average reading of an indigenous child was above that of a non-indigenous child. Some of Mount Isa’s indigenous children live in makeshift camps along Death Adder Creek and the Leichhardt River, which Xstrata is currently cleaning up after tests found high metal contamination.

Sustainability Minister Mr McNamara said there were many causes of the problems, including that the town was located in a “highly mineralised” region and that you have to be careful about saying that there was a direct correlation between the lead levels among children and Xstrata’s emissions.

And Queensland Health’s Linda Selvey said it was difficult to pinpoint the source of contamination. She said:” We will continue to do what has been done in the past and we agreed to probably increase what’s been done because a lead level over 10 is not acceptable.” Dr Selvey said the Government would concentrate on improving awareness among the community, in keeping children out of the dirt and wiping down surfaces in the house with wet rags.

Joyce & Marco Zangger, Zurich: One-year trip around Australia

Hi there!

It might be interesting for you to know that right now a very adventurous Swiss couple is staying as guests at our Parkwood B&B in the Whitsundays (Qld). Their names are Marco and Joyce and they come from Zurich. They left Switzerland sometimes in the middle of last year for a one-year trip around Australia. A very interesting detail is that they shipped their own Swiss 4WD to Australia after having it fitted out for all possible occurrences. This moment they covered a huge part of the mostly very rugged desert country and they visited a lot of cities as well. Right now they overhaul their vehicle at our place and then they will head up to the Cape York or they will cross the Simpson Desert before going into Darwin and further down the track into the Kimberley’s.

In the attachment you’ll find just two pictures I shot here at our place. But if you are interested in many more then go to www.marcozangger.ch and you will find the most beautiful pictures about that journey around Australia. You’ll find there as well reports (Reiseberichte) in German language. – Marco told me that you could write comments into that website or ask questions as well. You are very welcome!

If you ever venture on a trip like that – once in a lifetime – then don’t forget to stop here at our place. We certainly will enjoy your visit! – And now go and meet Marco and Joyce on their website!

Cheerio!

Ursula Simak, Parkwood B&B, Airlie Beach (type Airlie Beach), Whitsundays, Queensland