Oakey Coal Action Alliance drops to appeal against New Acland Coal Stage 3
The green group that has been fighting tooth and nail to stop New Acland Coal from more than doubling in size has dropped its latest appeal.
Toowoomba
Don't miss out on the headlines from Toowoomba. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Oakey Coal Action Alliance has dropped its appeal against New Acland Coal’s Stage 3 expansion, effectively signalling the end to the group’s 1ecade-long fight to block the project.
OCAA secretary Paul King said a ‘strategic decision’ was made to drop the appeal in a bid to preserve resources ahead of a potential fight against a Stage 4 expansion.
“It is difficult for community organisations to sustain long-term legal campaigns,” he said.
“Our resources were a significant factor in our decision to withdraw.”
OCAA, with support from the Environmental Defenders Office, launched a legal challenge to the Stage 3 expansion in 2015.
It started with a 77-day hearing in the Land Court, the longest on record, with OCAA arguing the expansion threatened groundwater.
While this hearing found in favour of OCAA, it was later overturned with the Appeal Court finding significant evidence of bias.
The result was a long running series of appeals and cross appeals while the mine was placed into caretaker mode when the Stage 2 pit ran dry.
The High Court set aside all the previous rulings and sent the matter back to the Land Court, which found in favour of NAC.
The Mine reopened in 2022 after it was granted the mining lease for Stage 3 and an associated water licence, but again OCAA appealed.
Its latest effort targeted the Queensland Government over its decision to approve the water licence.
Mr King said that despite dropping the appeal, OCAA would continue to stand up for farmers living near the mine.
“We wish to thank each and every member of the public and each organiser for your donations and support that enabled us to carry on this important fight,” he said.
“Water is vital, nothing can live without water.
“OCAA will stand against any Stage 4 for that mine, and any threats to the land, water and the family we have fought so hard to protect
“This chapter may be over but the book has not yet been written.”
NAC’s parent company, New Hope Group issued a statement that acknowledged the appeal had been dropped.
Chairman Robert Miller said he was waiting for the paperwork to be finalised before commenting further.
“The end of OCAA’s challenge gives us confidence to progress our ramp up plan and develop the Manning Vale West mining area.” he said.
“Our workforce at New Acland has grown to almost 300 employees since resuming operations.
“The permanent workforce at New Acland will be approximately 400 full-time roles once New Acland Stage 3 is fully developed.
“New Acland provides an essential energy product to our trading partners in Asia and domestically and will bring significant economic benefits for Queensland, and especially the Darling Downs region.”
Originally published as Oakey Coal Action Alliance drops to appeal against New Acland Coal Stage 3
Man fighting for life after snake bite
A man was fighting for life after being bitten by a snake west of Brisbane on Tuesday night.
Big boost for ‘world class’ mountain bike project in $32m funding deal
New life has been breathed into a troubled mountain bike project in southeast Queensland as part of a massive $32m funding deal between all three tiers of government.