{"id":179977,"date":"2017-05-31T15:16:51","date_gmt":"2017-05-31T05:16:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=179977"},"modified":"2020-09-15T11:51:47","modified_gmt":"2020-09-15T01:51:47","slug":"court-rules-against-acland-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/05\/31\/court-rules-against-acland-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"Court Rules Against
Acland Mine Expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington addresses a pro-Acland Mine rally in 2016 in Brisbane (Photo: Nanango Electorate Office)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 31, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

Farmers will be rejoicing following a decision in the Queensland Land Court on Wednesday which effectively axed the controversial Stage 3 expansion of Acland Coal Mine.<\/p>\n

The judgment was handed down after the longest hearing in the 120-year history of the Land Court.<\/p>\n

It recommended that Mines Minister Anthony Lynham and other government authorities formally reject the mining leases and environmental authorities for New Hope’s $900 million proposed expansion, saying the project could damage groundwater for farmers for hundreds of years.<\/p>\n

“Groundwater considerations are such that the revised Stage 3 project should not proceed given the risks to the surrounding landholders and the poor state of the current model,” the judgment reads.<\/p>\n

The ruling also considered noise levels, dust and air quality issues, and koala habitat.<\/p>\n

The expansion would have almost doubled production at the mine from 4.6 million tonnes a year to 7.6 million tonnes, and extended the life of the mine by about 12 years.<\/p>\n

New Hope had claimed there would have been ongoing employment for 435 people at the expanded mine.<\/p>\n

Anti-mining group Lock The Gate described the result as a “huge win for farmers”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It congratulated the Oakey Coal Action Alliance and other objectors for their ongoing campaign against the project.<\/p>\n

This campaign has involved a number of expensive legal actions.<\/p>\n

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington became embroiled in the saga when she revealed in February 2012 that the LNP would not support a Stage 3 expansion, particularly if the mine encroached on Strategic Cropping Land.<\/p>\n

However, after the State Election, the LNP government gave a revised and smaller Stage 3 plan its support.<\/p>\n

The ALP made an election commitment to hold an independent review into the effect of the Stage 3 proposal on the local community.<\/p>\n

Lock The Gate said it was now time for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to finally reject the mine.<\/p>\n