Farmers fight New Hope’s New Acland coal mine expansion
The $900m expansion of a thermal coal mine in southeast Queensland could again be stymied by activists, despite receiving final environmental approval.
The $900m expansion of a thermal coal mine in southeast Queensland could again be stymied by activists, despite receiving its final environmental approval from the Palaszczuk government this week.
New Hope’s New Acland stage 3 expansion – surrounded by dairy farms and agricultural land on the Darling Downs west of Toowoomba – received an associated water licence at the end of last year. An internal review by Queensland’s water department this week confirmed the decision, 16 years after the company first sought approval for the mine expansion.
New Hope says the granting of the final approval means the first shipment of coal could leave the site as early as October, but environmentalists have flagged yet another legal appeal.
Oakey Coal Action Alliance secretary Paul King told The Australian the group and its backers – which include Lock the Gate and the Environmental Defenders Office – was assessing the prospects of appealing the associated water licence to the Land Court.
“The internal review relied on the same flawed data (as the original decision),” Mr King said.
“We do have an opportunity to test the New Hope underground water model in the Land Court and we are currently assessing the prospects.”
If there is an appeal to the Land Court, it would be the fourth time the project has been taken to that jurisdiction by its opponents. Activists also took their fight against the New Acland expansion to the High Court.
A New Hope Group spokesman said the project was the “most reviewed and scrutinised resources project in Queensland’s history”.
“New Hope first sought approvals for New Acland Stage 3 back in 2007. 16 years of delays, setbacks and court cases is too long. There needs to be a more streamlined process, where everyone can have their say, without projects being stuck on a never-ending merry-go-round,” the spokesman said.
“The Queensland government has mechanisms it can action to ensure approved, regional projects, like New Acland Mine Stage 3 can proceed with certainty.”
The Bligh government passed legislation in 2007 to guarantee operations at Xstrata’s Wollombi coal mine, near Moranbah, in the face of legal challenges by environmentalists.
The Australian understands an option New Hope is also considering is applying for “prescribed project” status from the state’s Co-ordinator-General, which could give protection against further legal appeals.
Operations restarted on stage 3 in November and there are now 100 workers employed.
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