Greenies back down on New Acland coal challenge
It’s full steam ahead for more than a hundred workers up at Oakey with greenies finally seeing the light on the expansion of the New Acland mine.
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It’s full steam ahead up at Oakey with greenies finally seeing the light on the expansion of the New Acland Mine. The Oakey Coal Action Alliance (OCAA) last week withdrew its Land Court stay application to stage three of the project, paving the way for operator New Hope to accelerate mining activity after 16 years of legal challenges by environmentalists.
New Acland Mine general manager Dave O’Dwyer says the withdrawal is a welcome outcome for the site’s 100 plus workers. “It means we can start digging coal from the Manning Vale East Pit, which is the first area we have been developing since the Queensland Government approved the project in October last year,” O’Dwyer says.
There are currently more than a hundred local employees on site at the New Acland Mine, with the number expected to grow as a result of the stay application withdrawal.
At the peak of construction, there will be approximately 600 local workers. The permanent workforce will be approximately 400 full-time roles, made up of Darling Downs locals.
City Beat readers will recall New Acland has faced 16 years of environmental scrutiny and legal challenges, one of which reached the Australian High Court.
On a mission
Great Southern Bank and Mission Australia are teaming up to help cut soaring energy bills and reduce emissions for community housing tenants
The Brisbane-based bank will invest $1 million over the next three years funding energy and water efficiency upgrades across hundreds of properties managed by the national community housing provider along the eastern seaboard of Australia.
The initiative comes as electricity prices continue to rise across Australia. Great Southern chief executive Paul Lewis says the partnership has the potential to relieve energy bill hardship for hundreds of Mission Australia tenants living in community housing.
“Some of the homes that will be upgraded are over 40 years old and amongst the least energy efficient in the country,” says Lewis. “The tenants are mostly on low to medium incomes and will be able to redirect savings from lower utility bills towards essentials such as food and medications. For many, this will also help them build a crucial savings buffer for when things go wrong.”
Chainsaw exit
There are some big shoes to fill at the Queensland Resources Council when Ian “Chainsaw” MacFarlane finally makes his exit as chief executive at the end of the year.
We hear the QRC is actively searching for a replacement for “Chainsaw”, who has indicated he is willing to stay on until a replacement is found. With tensions between the State Government and the mining sector ramping up this week over the contentious royalty issue, the new man or women in the role will need to be prepared for a fight.
Macfarlane, who has been boss of QRC since 2016, says he had plans to take up golf more seriously after retiring from federal politics and the ministry - he is a regular player on Toowoomba’s Middle Park Golf Course. But he has no thoughts of retirement with directorships, including a seat on the board of energy giant Woodside.
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Originally published as Greenies back down on New Acland coal challenge
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