Battle brewing over Fox Resources’ plan for coking coal mine in Bundaberg

A bitter battle is brewing in the sugar city of Bundaberg over plans for a coal mine, with the project proponents planning to appeal a rejection by the Queensland government.

Fox Resources has met with mining workers in Bundaberg to drive messaging about the potential benefits of its coal mine to the local economy.

A bitter battle is brewing in the sugar city of Bundaberg over plans for a coal mine in a region better known for its agricultural resources.

The Queensland government has knocked back a proposal from Perth-based Fox Resources to explore a proposed coking coal reserve near Moore Park, northwest of the city.

Fox Resources executive director Bruce Garlick has been seeking support for the underground project near Moore Park that has attracted opposition from the local farming community.

Queensland Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace last week said her preliminary view was that the application was not in the public interest, a decision Fox Resources confirmed on Wednesday they will fight.

A rejection on the same grounds by state Mines Minister Scott Stewart last year was later overturned by the Queensland Supreme Court.

Bundaberg is one of the richest agricultural regions in the country, producing close to $2bn in sugar, vegetable small crops and nuts each year. In 2014, a company backed by Gina Rinehart proposed a similar project in the area that also was opposed by local farmers.

Resident Cristel Simmonds, who lives on acreage within the mining exploration lease, said she was not alone in fearing the mine would affect her quality of life.

“There is a large group of locals who have been actively campaigning against the Fox Resources application for a long time now,” she said.

“Our community deserves peace of mind about our future.”

Fox Resources executive director Bruce Garlick.

Troy Prichard, a sweet potato grower in the North Bundaberg area, said he was deeply concerned for the future of his farm and those of his neighbours.

“North Bundaberg is a food bowl for the whole country,” he said.

“We grow everything here – from sugarcane to sweet potatoes, to macadamias and strawberries and an amazing array of other high-value crops.

“The fact the state government is even considering placing a coal mine in the heart of some of Australia’s best farming land is hard to fathom. An underground coal mine ins this area is a direct threat to our valuable underground water supplies and a major threat to the thousands of local jobs that rely on irrigated agriculture in this region.”

Mr Garlick said the company recognised the importance of protecting the region’s key agricultural and other industries, with no impact on the aquifer used for local water consumption and farming use.

He said the proposal was in its early stages and the company was only seeking to drill five bore holes for exploration purposes, together with some technical studies. These activities would have minimal impact and would be conducted in accordance with the highest environmental and regulatory standards.

The company had been asked to provide further submissions in response to the government’s concerns by November 15.

Queensland will go to the polls on October 26, with the Labor government expected to lose to the more mining-friendly LNP.

Mr Garlick said the company would review the grounds for the government knockback and consult the local community reference group to get their views.

Fox was successful last year in having the Queensland Supreme Court overturn the government’s initial rejection of the mining development application.

Sweet potato farmer Troy Prichard is opposed to the mine.

The court held that the Mines Minister had made an “error of law” in not conducting an “evaluative process” to gauge community sentiment towards the proposal.

Mr Garlick said the mine would provide 200 new jobs, with a priority on local employment in a drive-in, drive-out operation, and $45m in estimated annual economic benefits.

“The mine itself would only take up about 125 hectares, which is the size of the average cane farm,” he said.

He hit back at a recent petition presented to state parliament that the development could “threaten one of Australia’s largest food-producing areas, underground aquifers and the pristine environment”.

He said the proposed operation would be located on non-arable land, unsuitable for agriculture, and that Fox Resources was committed to protecting the local water supply. Fox is proposing an underground operation with the metallurgical coal to be shipped to export markets via the Port of Gladstone.

Originally published as Battle brewing over Fox Resources’ plan for coking coal mine in Bundaberg