JOBS GONE: More redundancies at New Acland

NEW HOPE Group has begun another round of redundancies at New Acland Coal Mine this week as the mine faces an increasingly bleak future.

A sign is seen at a meeting about New Acland stage three lack of approvals, Wednesday, June 17, 2020. Picture: Kevin Farmer

NEW HOPE Group has begun another round of redundancies at New Acland Coal Mine this week as the mine faces an increasingly bleak future.

Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union delegate Michael Hartin said the first consultation meeting was held today, with 25 people expected to lose their jobs.

Further consultation meetings will be held with mining crews throughout this week.

The redundancies mean New Hope Group has shed nearly 200 jobs since September last year as it ramps down operations in a bid to extend the life of the coal mine, which is running out of coal without its Stage 3 expansion approvals.

Half the mine's workforce - 150 workers - were made redundant after September 1, 2019, and Queensland Bulk Handling and New Hope Group have also axed workers since then.

Mr Hartin said the workforce was disappointed.

"They're certainly shocked and I guess angry with the Queensland Government at the moment," he said.

"Because obviously they realise it is a tough time to be out there looking for a job."

The State Government has repeatedly said it would not grant the Stage 3 expansion's approvals until the court action between New Acland Coal and the Oakey Coal Action Alliance was resolved.

OCAA was in June granted special leave to appeal to the High Court.

Mr Hartin said without approvals, the mine was staring down the barrel of "huge job losses", "probably the majority of the workforce, certainly, well and truly before the middle of next year."