Queensland conservationists call for river-mining ban to protect Great Barrier Reef

State mines minister rejects two applications at reserves west of Cape Tribulation which campaigners say should set a precedent

The "archaic" practice of mining rivers in north Queensland is making a mockery of Australia's key policy to protect the Great Barrier Reef, wasting multimillion-dollar efforts to cut runoff pollution, its opponents say.

"Instream" mining in Queensland, the only state still allowing the excavation of rivers for gold, tin and silver, is unleashing torrents of fine sediment in one of the reef's largest catchments.