Fox Resources calls for coal mine reference group nominations

Fox Resources calls for public nominations for a reference group it hopes will give it ‘social licence’ to operate a coal mine in Bundaberg.

Fox Resources is calling for public nominations for a regional reference group to provide community feedback into the mining development project.

The West Australia firm making a bid for a coal mine on agricultural land at north Bundaberg has called for nominations for a community reference group that opponents have claimed is part of an attempt to “divide the community”.

Two weeks after announcing the establishment of the regional reference group to provide feedback into its mining development application for MDL 3040, a 7818ha swath of land in north Bundaberg, Fox Resources issued a statement calling for public nominations.

A Fox Resources spokesperson said the RRG would be comprised of “a cross-section of representatives of the northern Queensland economy”, and would meet in Bundaberg on a quarterly schedule, “or more frequently as needed”, with the purpose of minimising the impact of the project on prime agricultural land and the environmental values of the region.

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The RRG will also play a role in identifying local staff and businesses to fulfill the workforce, services and goods requirements of the project, the spokesperson said.

Following the nomination process, Fox Resources will select and appoint a chairperson and five members of the RRG “in early 2024”.

If approved, the mining development licence will allow Fox Resources to conduct exploratory digging in MDL 3040, a a 7818ha swath of agricultural land in north Bundaberg.

Fox Resources executive director Bruce Garlick said the RRG would help the company achieve its goal of “earning a social licence to operate” in the region.

“Fox welcomes nominations from interested parties for the RRG, which will be an important means of conveying information, discussing project impacts and ensuring maximum community benefit from the project, while minimising environmental impacts,” Mr Garlick said.

“We are focused on earning a social licence to operate and this is another important step in the process of establishing a project that genuinely reflects community expectations.”

Speaking at the MDL 3040 Community Forum on Sunday, December 3, 2023, Resources Minister Scott Stewart said Fox Resources had a mid-March deadline to submit its mining development application, following which he would make his decision approving or rejecting the application around July.

Given the tight time frame, a Fox Resources spokesperson said the RRG would likely meet more frequently than quarterly after the members were appointed in early 2024.

“I would anticipate there certainly would be more than one meeting of the RRG before mid-March 2024,” the spokesperson said.

LNP Burnett MP Stephen Bennett told the 200 people who attended the MDL 3040 Community Forum he would be “interested to see how (the RRG) evolves and who (Fox Resources) allow as interested stakeholders ... because we need voices represented”.

LNP Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said the community needed voices represented on the reference group.

Former NSW MP and Moore Park Beach resident Alan Corbett said Fox Resources was trying to “divide the community” through the RRG.

“They’ve got this regional reference group they’re setting up in Bundaberg, what’s the point of that is to divide and conquer, to divide the community,” Mr Corbett said.

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In response, a Fox Resources spokesperson said the RRG “will embed community feedback in every step of the project development process, with Fox Resources committed to maintaining an open and consultative approach towards all stakeholders”.

Nominations for the RRG can be sent to Fox Resources via [e-mail].