QRC phone calls on Queensland Governing administration to introduce legislation to present certainty all-around method to approve New Acland enlargement

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– QRC Chief Govt, Ian Macfarlane

The Queensland Sources Council (QRC) will check with the State Federal government to deliver certainty all over the system demanded to approve an expansion of New Hope Group’s New Acland coal mine.

The QRC’s ask for will come following the Significant Court docket nowadays referred an attractiveness by a modest team of environmental activists from the enlargement back to Queensland’s Land Court docket.

Chief Government Ian Macfarlane stated New Hope and the Queensland means business is wanting for an assurance from the Condition Federal government that if the acceptance application is returned to the Land Court, the following ruling from the Land Court docket won’t be further more delayed by troubles and appeals by activists.

He mentioned there was precedent for the federal government to get action to assistance the enlargement of New Acland Phase 3, which was permitted for improvement by Queensland’s Coordinator General in 2014.

“Former Premier Anna Bligh enacted laws in 2007 to allow for for an growth of Xstrata’s Wollombi coal mine,” Mr Macfarlane claimed.

“The Premier took this action following the Queensland Court docket of Appeal observed in favour of objections to the mine and referred the make any difference again to the Land Court docket for a re-listening to.

“The Premier’s response was to announce her federal government would legislate to clear away uncertainty expressing:

“My authorities is not geared up to have this uncertainty. Future 7 days we will legislate to validate the mining lease so the mine can continue, but only with stringent environmental requirements” (Refer to backlink below for Premier’s full assertion).

Mr Macfarlane reported that ironically, the Bligh Government’s 2007 decision was the exact 12 months New Hope lodged an software to extend its New Acland mine, which was 14 decades ago.

“Right now Queensland desperately wants new positions and a boost in financial action to promote a post-COVID restoration,” he explained.

“That will not transpire unless of course the sector has certainty and self confidence in the approval system for mining apps.”

Mr Macfarlane claimed hundreds of personnel used at New Acland have already lost their employment and local communities and businesses are suffering simply because of a little group of activists who refuse to settle for the Coordinator General’s final decision.

“The QRC has continuously argued that New Hope’s proposal to extend its open-slice mine in the vicinity of Oakey should really have been accepted by the Queensland Govt right after it went by the proper state regulatory channels and session procedures and acquired Coordinator Basic acceptance,” he claimed.

“It’s really regarding that a mining procedure can be held up in this way by a tiny team of individuals who have been organized to hold off the job by any legal suggests doable, regardless of the influence on the surrounding local community who want this challenge to happen.

“This variety of problem can likely occur to any corporation, and displays very badly on Queensland’s attractiveness as an financial investment destination,” he explained.

“Right now we need to be focussed on attracting new financial investment and job options to help Queensland recover from COVID, and extended-managing debacles like this are doing our marketplace no favours.”

Click on in this article for the 2007 joint statement by then Leading, Hon Anna Bligh and Mines and Power Minister, Hon Geoff Wilson