FLASHBACK: Two public meetings called by the KCCG about Moreton Resources’ proposed Kingaroy coal mine have packed Kingaroy Town Hall … now the group are calling on the State Government to buy back the company’s exploration permit (Photo: KCCG)

September 25, 2016

The State Government has been asked to buy back a mining exploration permit held by Moreton Resources to ensure a proposed coal mine near Kingaroy is never built.

The Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group (KCCG) has called on Mining Minister Dr Anthony Lynham to follow the lead of the NSW State Government, which recently agreed to buy back BHP’s licence for its proposed Caroona coal mine on the Liverpool Plains.

The NSW Government made the move to preserve prime agricultural land.

The KCCG said the Queensland Government should act because of concerns the mine would have adverse health effects on Kingaroy residents if it were to go ahead.

“A recall of the permit is one of the simplest ways for the Government to save the company (Moreton Resources) from completing an expensive Environmental Impact Statement, and also save the local community from further concern,” KCCG spokesman John Dalton said.

“The local community and our local Parliamentarians can see it’s a poor proposal.”

The KCCG said it had recently commissioned a study by former nuclear engineer and CSIRO scientist Dr Rock Boothroyd about the possible health effects of the mine.

In his study, Dr Boothroyd raised concerns about potential heavy metal pollution of Kingaroy’s water supply, as well as air and dust pollution that would affect the town and its residents, if the mine went ahead.

“Dr Boothroyd’s study validates our concerns, so there is a strategic opportunity for the Minister Lynham to exercise his powers to intervene for the benefit of the local community, the company, and its shareholders,” Mr Dalton said.

Moreton Resources purchased its mining exploration permit (EPC882) from Cockatoo Coal in 2015 for $300,000.

The company has previously said it hoped to begin development of an open cut coal mine 4km south of Kingaroy in 2017.

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