Mixed feelings as New Acland Coal announces reopening
Small businesses along Oakey’s main street are overjoyed at news of New Acland Coal hiring 600 workers in the coming months but their joy has not been shared by all.
Toowoomba
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In the two decades that Ken Potts has owned the Oakey Newsagency, he was so confident in the steady stream of New Acland Coal workers coming into his shop every morning that he started trading as early as 5.15am to cater for their shift rotation.
They would buy lotto tickets, smokes, food, drinks and newspapers – the bread and butter of a modern newsagency.
But then the coal ran dry in 2021 as the mine’s owner the New Hope Group battled a collection of farmers and environmentalists intent on blocking the Stage Three expansion.
Like so many Oakey business owners, Mr Potts watched his takings decline as sacked workers moved on and the legal tug of war sowed discontent within the small town.
He hopes that pain will fade into memory with news of the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water granting NAC a water licence and clearing the last major hurdle to reopening the mine and hiring an estimated 600 workers.
“It will improve business in Oakey,” Mr Potts said.
“It is only going to help.
“There are plenty of local blokes who have already put their resume in at the mine and the operators have said they will hire locals.”
An estimated 820 people have already put their hands up to work at the mine while 108 businesses are keen to come on board as suppliers.
Of the 820 workers, 198 are from Toowoomba, 176 from Highfields and 85 are from Oakey.
About 200 were former NAC workers.
Further along Campbell Street, Hamlyn’s Modern Meats owner Tony James is equally optimistic.
“This is the best thing that could have happened,” he said.
“People can’t wait for the mine to kick in because it means jobs for the town.”
While the water licence was granted on Thursday, the state government had signalled that it had finally come around to supporting NCA after it granted a mine lease for Stage Three in August, more than 15 years after it was first proposed.
Condamine MP Pat Weir said it was about time.
“While the government dragged its feet and refused to make a decision 450 people lost their jobs,” he said.
“They government has never been able to find a justifiable reason not to approve this mine.
“It should have been approved long ago.”
New Hope Group CEO Rob Bishop said the water licence involved consultation with Darling Downs stakeholders, including the mine’s objectors.
“The exhaustive process was overseen by a host of Queensland Government Ministers and countless, hardworking public servants who evaluated every aspect of the project and concluded that New Acland Stage 3 should go ahead,” he said.
“The Land Court process, the Co-ordinator General’s extensive consultation process, the separate independent assessments of the Queensland Department of Environment and Science and the Minister for Resources and now the thorough examination by the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water has allowed everyone, including the mine’s objectors, to be heard.”
The water licence governs how the mine operation should interact with groundwater and was subject to reviews, comment and assessment by independent experts, peer reviewers, objectors and State regulators and Commonwealth agencies.
Importantly, all water used to operate the mine will be sourced from the Wetalla Waste Water Treatment Plant on Toowoomba
“Groundwater is regulated by existing Water Act management area conditions and conditions established by the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, Coordinator General, the Department of Environment and Science and the Federal Minister for the Environment,” Mr Bishop said.
“These conditions enable mining to successfully coexist with agriculture and support a broader range of commercial and employment opportunities for the community.
But not everyone is so enthusiastic.
Already the Oakey Coal Action Alliance – the body representing farmers and environmentalists – has launched a fundraising campaign to appeal the approvals.
It is early days but they have about $3300 in their war chest in less than 24 hours.
Their aim is to raise $50,000 for expert reports, legal fees and briefs in support of a King’s Counsel who has agreed to fight pro bono.
“There is a lot riding on the grant of this water licence – farm water bores are at risk from drawdown or pollution from this mine expansion and we’ll be pursuing every avenue to protect them,” Oakey Coal Action Alliance secretary Paul King said.
“The conditions suggested by the department will do nothing to stop New Hope draining groundwater. The last time the mine’s impact on groundwater was tested in a court of law, it was farmers that won the day. A law change meant that it went back to the drawing board, and now is a crucial chance to test it again.
“Extracting coal from beneath the ground drains water relied on by farmers in the surrounding district, and we believe that fact needs to be heard and considered by a court.”