New Acland legal roundabout must stop

The long-running battle by greenies to stop the New Acland Coal expansion going ahead and employing hundreds of locals seems to be a never-ending story.

Even the legal fraternity is getting sick of the long-running battle by greenies to stop the New Acland Coal expansion going ahead and employing hundreds of locals.

When the latest chapter in the 15-year legal fight over the mine was being fought back in April last year, Land Court Member Peta Stilgoe appeared to show her frustration in rejecting an application for costs by the Oakey Coal Action Alliance (OCAA).

“Every saga has an end,” she said in the very first sentence of her judgment. “Hopefully this decision will be the end of the long running New Acland dispute.”

Unfortunately, her optimism was misplaced with the OCAA this week challenging the State Government’s approval of the water licence in the very same Land Court. Again the litigation will see taxpayer money versus taxpayer money being funnelled into the action, with the OCAA being represented by the publicly funded Environmental Defenders Office.

Queensland Minister for Resources Scott Stewart at the official opening of the New Acland Mine Stage 3

In your diarist’s opinion, it’s high time the State Government legislated to ensure the project does not in the words of Queensland Resources Council boss Ian Macfarlane become “a never-ending roundabout.”

There is precedence for such action. In 2007, the then Bligh Government legislated to guarantee operations at Xstrata’s Wollombi operations near Moranbah after legal action by green groups threatened to stall the mine’s development.

QRC’s Macfarlane has long argued the government needs to have faith in its own processes and not be held to ransom by minority activist groups.

“No resources project in Queensland history has been more scrutinised or assessed than New Acland Stage 3,” Macfarlane said last year.“New Hope Group, its workers and the local community have been stuck on a never-ending roundabout.”

Brain gain

The finishing touches are being put on the Queensland Brain Institute’s annual flagship

fundraiser for dementia. The gala event at Hillstone St Lucia on Friday, May 26, marks QBI’s 20th anniversary and the 8th year of the gala.

QBI was established in 2003 with the generous support of philanthropist Chuck Feeney and bolstered by the leadership of founding director Emeritus Professor Perry Bartlett.

Along with the support of other benefactors who have followed in their wake, QBI has flourished to become one of the world’s leading neuroscience institutes.

Recognising dementia is one society’s most pressing health problems, QBI is home to more than 150 world-leading dementia experts supporting the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research and is focused on translating the institute’s enhanced knowledge of ageing and dementia research into clinical treatments and interventions.

Queensland Brain Institute founder Perry Bartlett.

BDO promotion

Brisbane-based Cara Wennerbom has been promoted to the national role of chief operating officer of BDO Australia.

Wennerbom brings more than 20 years of experience in professional services, most recently serving as the firm’s chief financial officer where she led a range of initiatives focused on operational efficiency, growth and innovation.

She managed the firm’s financial operations and performance from 2008 when its annual revenue was around $50m and 20 partners to $400m and over 250 partners.

In recent years, she oversaw the financial integration of the firm as it moved towards its goal of becoming a single national entity. Wennerbom is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She also is a director of Netball Queensland.

Cara Wennerbom has been promoted to the national role of chief operating officer of BDO Australia.

Originally published as New Acland legal roundabout must stop