Federal government rejects coal mine backed by Clive Palmer

A controversial Central Queensland coal mine backed by Clive Palmer and proposed to be built close to the Great Barrier Reef has been comprehensively rejected by the federal environment minister.

A CONTROVERSIAL Central Queensland coal mine backed by Clive Palmer and proposed to be built just a whisker from the Great Barrier Reef has been comprehensively rejected by the federal environment minister.

Minister Tanya Plibersek, in her first decision under environment protection laws, has decided to refuse the development of the Clive Palmer-backed Central Queensland Coal Project, formerly known as the Styx Coal mine.

It is understood to be the first time a federal environment minister has actively rejected a coal mine proposal.

The project was to be an open cut thermal and coking coal mine 130km northwest of Rockhampton — and just 10km from the Reef World Heritage area-- producing up to 10 million tonnes of thermal and coking coal each year for a quarter of a century.

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.

The Central Queensland Coal Project, backed by Clive Palmer, has been rejected under environment protection laws. File picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Ms Plibersek, in a decision published on Thursday, rejected the proposed coal mine on eight of 12 grounds including for potential impacts on the Great Barrier Reef, water resources, and world heritage values.

“Based on the information available to me at this stage, I believe that the project would be likely to have unacceptable impacts to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and the values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and National Heritage Place,” she said.

“The available evidence also suggests that the project would be likely to have unacceptable impacts on water resources in the area.”

Queensland Conservation Council said the Minister’s decision “should be the final nail in the coffin of this outrageous proposal”.

The decision to refuse the project is open to public feedback until August 18, though the rejection is so comprehensive it is understood the coal mine is unlikely to be approved even if the proponent makes changes to the proposal.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society on Wednesday released a new report warning of the “disastrous impact” the mine would have on an area of the reef known to be strongholds for dugongs and turtle.

“Broad Sound, just downstream from the proposed mine site, is an area rich in marine life, including species important for commercial and recreational fishing like barramundi and mud crabs,” AMCS Great Barrier Reef campaigner Cherry Muddle said.

“Habitats like mangroves and seagrass are found there or nearby – these are key habitats for marine wildlife and important carbon sinks.

“Our report shows the tides and currents of Broad Sound could carry fine sediment released from the mine to these important habitats, smothering them, risking impacts on the protected migratory species that rely on them, like dugongs or flatback turtles.”

Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman said the Minister’s decision was a “victory for Queensland”

“Building a new thermal coal mine 10km from the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area was an extreme, dangerous proposal, even for Clive Palmer,” he said.

“This is a sensible application of the Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act.

“This mine would have impacted on dugong and turtle habitats, and been another unacceptable risk to the Great Barrier Reef.”