The Queensland government has been advised a key part of its controversial wild rivers laws has no scientific basis.
The laws, which limit development around Cape York waterways, are the subject of a Senate inquiry and have been criticised by indigenous groups and miners.
It has now been revealed an independent hydrologist told the Queensland government in 2009 there was no justification for the size of buffer zones, known as high preservation areas (HPAs), surrounding watercourses covered by wild rivers declarations.
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Mining company Cape Alumina quoted from the advice, which has to date never been publicly released, in a submission to the Senate inquiry.
Cape Alumina is developing a bauxite project near the Wenlock River, in northwest Cape York, which may be affected by a proposed wild rivers declaration.
"There appears to be no justification for the size of the proposed high preservation areas, (and that) bauxite mining will have relatively little impact on the groundwater hydrology of
nearby springs," the hydrologist advice said.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management said it could not release the report, but did not dispute the statements attributed to it.
Cape Alumina CEO Dr Paul Messenger said the report backed up the miner's submission that HPAs be reduced from 500 to 200 metres around springs and small tributaries, though it does not dispute the 1km buffer either side of the Wenlock.
"There is no scientific basis for the size of that buffer," he told AAP.
Wilderness Society: Company engaged in 'highly selective quoting'
However, the Wilderness Society's Glenn Walker accused the company of "highly selective quoting" from what was an interim report.
Mr Walker said an updated independent report yet to be provided to the government would take into account more detailed research by Australia Zoo, whose cattle property the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is partly covered by Cape Alumina's mining lease.
"There is a very strong argument (according to Australia Zoo's data) that because of the sensitive value of the area, miningshouldn't happen there," Mr Walker said.
Environmentalists argue the Wenlock River has the richest diversity of freshwater fish of any river in Australia.
Previous wild river declarations in the Archer, Stewart and Lockhart River basins have drawn the ire of Aboriginal groups who argue they stifle economic development in an already impoverished region.
atural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson said he would take into account all advice before deciding on whether to proceed with the declaration.
