New Acland coal mine: State government department confirms mining lease for controversial expansion

After more than 15 years, the state government has handed a major approval to a highly-controversial mine expansion in southwest Queensland. Here’s what we know so far.

After a battle lasting more than 15 years, a department in the state government has approved the highly-controversial expansion of the New Acland Mine near Oakey.

In a brief statement from Resources Minister Scott Stewart, he said he had approved the mining leases “after careful consideration”.

“The project also requires an associated water licence from the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water,” the statement added.

New Acland coal mine general manager Dave O’Dwyer called the announcement a “watershed” moment for both the company and the Darling Downs.

“The granting of New Acland stage three’s mining leases is a watershed moment in the long running approvals process,” Mr O’Dwyer said.

“Minister Stewart’s decision to grant (the) mining leases is proof the Queensland Government believes the project makes sense environmentally, socially and financially.”

Oakey Coal Action Alliance spokesman Paul King said the minister’s announcement was “disturbing” but pledged to continue fighting the expansion.

“This is disturbing and disappointing, but it is not the end,” he said.

“We’ll be doing all that we can to protect the farmers, farmland and groundwater of the Acland district.

“We expected that there were many further considerations that the minister would take, not least of which the public interest, and also the dramatic effect it will have on milk supplies in Queensland.

“He can’t reconsider, but we will take every step that we can to ensure that this approval never translates into the destruction of Acland.”

The approval comes after a long battle between landholders and environmental groups against the mining giant over their planned expansion, dating back to 2007 when the application for the mining lease expansion was first lodged.

The Newman LNP Government rejected the mine expansion proposal in 2012, and a revised application was against knocked back by the Palaszczuk Government in 2018 after a recommendation from the Land Court.

New Acland had been in limbo since November 2021 when operations were shuttered after the last coal was extracted from the stage 2 pit after 19 years of operation, with about 100 staff laid off since then.

Mining trucks pictured at the New Acland Mine, 25th of May 2022. A new stage of the New Acland Mine is close to final approval. (Image/Josh Woning)

Opposition to the New Acland expansion had been strong through the Oakey Coal Action Alliance since 2015, with the group claiming a high-stakes win in the High Court in 2021 that kicked off the latest round of Land Court hearings that culminated in in June 2022 when the Department of Environment and Science approving an amended Environmental Authority for the planned third stage of the New Acland project following recommendations of the Land Court decision and the Coordinator General.

The authority included strict conditions, such as limits on air and noise emissions.

“Should there be any activity prior to all approvals being granted, the independent regulator will monitor compliance with environmental obligations in accordance with the EA,” the statement read.

NAC Stage 3 is estimated to employ up to 600 workers during construction, 400 when operational and be worth about $1 billion to the local economy.

New Hope Group and the OCAA have been contacted for comment.

Michael Hartin, CFMEU rep. Meeting at Oakey Showgrounds regarding Acland mine. Saturday. 25th Oct 2020

Unions praise approval:

Mining and energy union representative at the CFMEU Michael Hartin praised the decision, calling on New Hope to ring all 300 sacked workers first once it also obtained the water licence.

“Obviously it’s great to see another step forward, it provides a little bit of hope and certainty to the workers who lost their jobs and the community that relies on those workers,” he said.

“Over 300 workers lost their jobs - this is an Australian coal company mining Australian coal with Australian workers.

“There’s been literature in the past from the company, saying the priority is to get the skilled workers back.

“That’s certainly something that once the water license is granted we’ll speak to the company at later stages.

“The company has always campaigned on it and we’ll be holding the company accountable.”

The CFMEU actively campaigned against the Labor Party at the most recent state election on its inaction around New Acland.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Macfarlane thrilled by expansion green light

Former Groom MP and Queensland Resources Council CEO Ian Macfarlane said the announcement had been met with a sigh of relief by the industry and the wider community.

“No resources project in Queensland history has been more scrutinised or assessed than New Acland Stage Three, so this is very welcome news for people in the Oakey district,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The QRC thanks Resources Minister Scott Stewart for his even-handed approach, and we acknowledge the detailed assessment work that has taken place over many years by the Department of Resources.

“Queensland’s exports such as coal and LNG have a role to play as export nations work towards achieving their net zero emissions goals, especially as countries take the time needed to transition and implement new technologies.”