Emissions up as New Acland coalmine stalled

Net emissions at a Queensland factory have increased after it was forced to source coal from another supplier while the New Acland mine waits for approval.

‘You’ve got to go with what’s sensible’: rendering plant manager David Kassulke says politics is delaying coal supply. Picture: Glenn Hunt

Net emissions at a green-friendly Queensland factory have risen after it was forced to source coal from another supplier while its long-term provider, the New Acland mine on the Darling Downs, waits for the Palasz­czuk government to approve its expansion.

The family-owned AJ Bush & Sons rendering facility near Beaudesert, 70km south of Brisbane, is among about 30 businesses that have had to seek an alternative supply as the Australian-owned New Hope mine ran short last year after years of environmental legal action.

The facility, which uses two coal-powered boilers to process animal by-products and waste into tallow, pet food, biogas and fertiliser, now buys its coal from a Chinese-owned mine 200km further west than New Acland.

Manager Dave Kassulke said the extra 400km round trip each day had increased his company’s operating costs and emissions through the extra 200 litres of diesel used each day.

“There’s more pollution from the diesel pollution, there’s higher costs and it makes Australian manufacturing uncompetitive,” he said. “We’ve got to be efficient to be competitive.”

Miner New Hope has been fighting in court for more than 12 years to be granted approval to build stage three of its coalmine west of Toowoomba.

The Australian Workers Union and the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union have called for the immediate approval of the project, which is tipped to provide more than 400 new jobs. Last year, 150 workers at the mine were cut.

Despite promising in the 2017 election campaign to make a decis­ion on the expansion following advice from a judicial review — which has concluded — that has still not happened.

Premier Annastacia Palasz­czuk has since said she is waiting for High Court action to conclude before making a final decision.

But the unions and New Hope have said the government had approved­ other mines facing similar legal challenges.

Mr Kassulke said he was frustrated that politics had delayed the mine’s expansion.

“I don’t care if they’re blue or they’re red, the thing is you’ve got to go with what’s sensible,’’ he said.

The company has reduced its coal consumption by 50 per cent by using biogas as a fuel source, but Mr Kassulke said transitioning entirely away from coal could not be done overnight.

New Hope group chief operating officer Andrew Boyd said the company was disappointed it could no longer supply its domest­ic customers with coal from the New Acland mine.

“All of these businesses now face an uncertain future with increased­ prices, less-efficient coal and massive transport costs,” Mr Boyd said. “By delaying the approvals of New Acland, the Queensland government has not only cost more than 150 direct jobs at Acland but also put at risk more than 14,000 jobs across the southeast.”