Clive Palmer’s coal-fired power station proposal called in by Miles

A plan to build a coal-fired power station in regional Queensland has stalled, with Deputy Premier Steven Miles exercising his power to ‘call in’ the project.

A proposal to build a new coal-fired power station in regional Queensland has been hauled in by the Deputy Premier over concerns it could affect matters of “state and potentially national environmental significance”.

Waratah Coal – wholly owned by Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy Group – has lodged a proposal with the Barcaldine Regional Council to build a 1400mwh power station which would service the public network and $6.4bn Galilee Coal Project.

The power station, access roads and substation would be built on a cattle property 30km northwest of the town of Alpha and create 90 jobs when operating.

Mr Miles said the proposal was being considered by the council under its outdated 2006 planning scheme and did not require public consultation.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles. (Image/Josh Woning)

Using powers to call in projects considered to affect the state’s interests and economy, Mr Miles said his department would review Waratah Coal’s development proposal and undertake a “thorough planning assessment” where the community will get its say.

“This call in allows the state to address a broader range of matters than the council was able to under their planning scheme,” he said.

“This will include seeking public comment on the project … I want to make sure the community get their say on a project of this scale.”

There are seven coal-fired power stations in Queensland.

The largest, Gladstone Power Station, has the capacity to generate 1680mw.

Mr Miles notes construction of a new coal power station “will also have a bearing” on the government’s target of 50 per cent renewables by 2030.

He said it would also affect regional employment opportunities, including certainty of employment within the existing energy supply chain.

“Further, the proposed development is of a size and location that will impact on matters of state and potentially national environmental significance, including groundwater, threatened species, air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

Queensland’s largest coal-fired power station in Gladstone.

Waratah Coal managing director Nui Harris wrote to Mr Miles this month arguing against the call in and said the project was vital to providing reliable power to the Galilee Basin project and residents.

Mr Harris said advanced technology meant the proposed station would provide up to a 22 per cent reduction in carbon emissions compared to existing coal-fired power stations – and said the use of offset certificates or carbon capture could reduce carbon emissions from the plant to net zero.

“We appreciate current public views and commentary on emissions; however we ask you to take an evidence-based approach on the project’s impacts and on clean coal,” he wrote.

The Deputy Premier said the new coal-fired power station would also affect the supply and pricing of electricity, “which is a matter of economic interest to the state”.

Originally published as Clive Palmer’s coal-fired power station proposal called in by Miles