Clive Palmer’s Central Queensland Coal Project rejected by Federal Government on environmental grounds

Clive Palmer’s contentious Central Queensland mine has become the first coal project ever to be rejected under the nation’s environmental laws. Is it the right call? Have your say in our poll.

Clive Palmer’s contentious Central Queensland mine has become the first coal project ever to be rejected under the nation’s environmental laws.

IS THIS THE RIGHT CALL? HAVE YOUR SAY IN OUR POLL BELOW

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek on Wednesday announced she had blocked the project, deeming it would have an “unacceptable” impact on the areas surrounding it — including the Great Barrier Reef just 10km away.

The project was to be an open-cut thermal and coking coal mine 130km northwest of Rockhampton producing up to 10 million tonnes of thermal and coking coal for overseas export annually for 25 years.

Businessman Clive Palmer’s planned project was to be an open-cut thermal and coking coal mine 130km northwest of Rockhampton producing up to 10 million tonnes of thermal and coking coal. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Ms Plibersek flagged moves in August 2022 to block the proposed mine, with ensuing public consultation resulting in 9000 comments — 98 per cent of which called for the project to be axed.

It was found the mine would result in “unacceptable” impacts on the environment, including fears affected mine water would cause “irreversible damage” to estuarine and near-shore ecosystems, and the potential for increased sediment to be released into the Great Barrier Reef.

It was also feared the mine’s use of groundwater would reduce baseflow in adjacent creeks including Tooloombah and Deep Creeks, and lead to the “dieback and loss of up to 165 hectares of groundwater dependent vegetation”.

The site of the proposed Central Queensland Coal Project near St Lawrence. Picture: CQ Coal

“I have decided not to approve the Central Queensland Coal Project because the risks to the Great Barrier Reef, freshwater creeks and groundwater are too great,” she said.

“Freshwater creeks run into the Great Barrier Reef and onto seagrass meadows that feed dugongs and provide breeding grounds for fish.”

Mr Palmer last year said the potential rejection of the mine showed the Greens were running government.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“To reject $80 billion shows economic irresponsibility,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Especially so when the entire production was destined for export markets and the alternative is the replacement in the market of inferior Indonesian coal which will result in three times greater emissions than what would have been the case with our coal.

“It’s clear the Albanese Government is irrational and is captured by Adam Bandt and The Greens.”

The decision to reject the coal mine proposal was welcomed by environmental groups, with most calling for Ms Plibersek to go further and veto other coal proposals.

Australian Marine Conservation Society Senior Great Barrier Reef Campaigner Cherry Muddle said this “should be the first step in rejecting new fossil fuel projects”.

Australian Conservation Foundation Gladstone-based campaigner Jaclyn McCosker urged Ms Plibersek to “keep listening to scientific experts and the community and reject the dozens of other coal proposals waiting for final approval”.

The Queensland Government, after assessing the project’s environmental submissions, ruled it was ‘not suitable to proceed’ due to ‘unacceptable risks’ to the Great Barrier Reef in April 2021.