New Hope Group’s New Acland coal mine hits new milestone, extracts first coal

The controversial New Acland coal mine has divided opinion since the New Hope Group first submitted an application for the third stage, but the project has now established a significant milestone.

Sixteen years ago, the New Hope Group submitted a controversial application to the Queensland government to approve the third stage of the New Acland project.

Now the organisation has performed its first coal extraction at the mining site.

New Acland Mine general manager Dave O’Dwyer said the first coal extraction was conducted at the Manning Vale East pit on Thursday.

New Acland Mine general manager Dave O’Dwyer. Picture: New Hope Group

“It was a surreal moment to achieve first coal and validates the efforts of so many workers and community leaders, who stood beside New Hope Group as we secured the necessary stage 3 approvals from the Queensland government,” Mr O’Dwyer said.

“Stage 3 first coal will trigger a significant ramp-up on site and a wave of additional milestones, including first washed coal via the onsite coal handling and processing plant and the first shipment of coal from New Acland Mine to the Port of Brisbane in more than two years.”

Mr O’Dwyer said the site, which currently has more than 100 staff members, would be looking to employ a further 30 full-time workers before Christmas.

New Hope has estimated the project will result in the employment of 600 workers from the Darling Downs at the peak of construction, 400 of which are expected to remain permanent roles during the project.

The organisation has also opted to hire local workers over fly-in, fly-out staff.

The New Acland Mine has extracted coal for the first time from the Queensland Government approved Stage 3 site. Picture: New Hope Group

Despite the mine’s vision of job growth opportunities for the region, the New Hope Group’s application to progress to stage 3 has caused controversy with some local farmers and Alliance groups.

Oakey Coal Action Alliance secretary Paul King said farmers were challenging the Associated Water Licence for New Hope’s coal mine expansion in the Land Court.

“We must stop New Hope from damaging the aquifers relied on by so many in this district to grow food and fibre for Queenslanders,” Mr King said.

“Farmers can’t afford to lose the groundwater that sustains agriculture in this region.”

Vowing to challenge the expanding New Acland Coal mine's water licence in the Land Court are (from left) Gayle Pendler and Kushla Gale.

Mr King said the Alliance group obtained court orders which limited how the New Hope Group could conduct mining, in order to protect water sources.

“We look forward to having our day in court,” he said.

“The original Land Court decision found in our favour on water in the mining objection hearing, and we will be making the strongest case possible that it should do so again.

“We’ve always said the Darling Downs is for farming, not coal mining, and we have no intention of backing down now.”

The New Hope Group has forecasted 950,000 pieces of coal will be extracted from the New Acland Mine over the course of the next financial year.