Greens’ poll success casts doubt over coalmine expansion

Backers of a mothballed coalmine, which needs state approval to expand, fear the historic swing to the Greens at the federal election will prevent it ever reopening.

Mining trucks pictured at the New Acland Mine. Picture: Josh Woning

Backers of a mothballed Queensland coalmine, which needs state approval to expand, fear the historic swing to the Greens at the federal election will prevent it ever reopening.

After 15 years of legal challenges, the expansion of the New Acland mine was given the legal go-ahead from the Queensland Land Court six months ago and was signed off by the Co-­ordinator-General in May.

New Acland, west of Toowoomba, is now waiting on three remaining approvals from the ­Palaszczuk’s government – the environmental assessment, mining lease and an associated water licence – before it can reopen.

The mine has effectively been shuttered since November, with more than 300 workers made redundant in the past three years.

New Hope Group chief executive Rob Bishop said approvals to expand the mine were first sought in 2007. “The fact that the project is still unresolved demonstrates an inordinate delay,” he said.

“There needs to be a more streamlined process, where everyone can have their say and a decision made on project-specific issues and conditions.

“Broader policy issues should be dealt with in other forums rather than being a basis for project-specific objection.”

In the days after Labor’ bruising defeat at the 2019 federal election, Annastacia Pal­as­zczuk fast-tracked Adani’s Carmichael mine, asking the Co-­ordinator-General to set dead­lines for outstanding approvals, but the Premier has said she will not get involved with approvals for New Acland.

Her spokesman said: “The government is following the process determined by the Land Court.”

A number of Labor-held seats are in serious jeopardy at the next state election after the Greens secured the largest positive swing of any party at May’s federal poll.

Michael Berkman, the first Greens MP elected to the Queensland parliament in 2017, said the election result “tells a very clear story about the kinds of ­government people want to see”.

“The Greens vote in Queensland should make clear to them that they should be actively transitioning away from coal and gas now, not approving more thermal coalmines,” he said.

“It (New Acland) is a thermal coalmine expansion on some of the best agricultural land in Queensland.

“Even if you put aside the climate impacts of approving this mine, this kind of prime agricultural land should be protected.”

Liberal National MP Garth Hamilton said New Acland, within his federal electorate of Groom, represented one-tenth of the ­region’s economy.

“I would hate to think politics is getting in the way of regional jobs,” he said. “If (the government) gave Acland the same treatment as Adani, this mine would have been up and running years ago.”