Land court bid to block Winchester South coal mine
By Industry Queensland
The Australian Conservation Foundation and Mackay Conservation Group have launched legal proceedings to block the $1 billion Winchester South coal project.
The environment groups will argue the Queensland Land Court should recommend no mining lease or environmental authority be granted for the project due to environmental and human rights impacts.
Located 30km south-east of Moranbah, the planned coal mine will produce up to 17 million tonnes per annum of run-of-mine (ROM) material.
The Whitehaven Coal development is expected to support 500 jobs in construction and 500 when operational.
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The project has been declared a coordinated project, and in November last year the Queensland Coordinator General recommended the project proceed following an extensive assessment process.
The Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation approved the project’s environmental authority application in February.
The conservation groups argue the thermal and metallurgical coal mine will generate at least 583 million tonnes of climate pollution over its 28-year life – more than the entire annual emissions of Australia.
They said it would destroy at least 2000ha hectares of wildlife habitat that is home to endangered and threatened species, have an unacceptable impact on water resources, and impact human rights due to the climate consequences on generations of Queenslanders.
“This coal mine would be a climate disaster, generating more pollution over its lifetime than every source in Australia does in a year,” ACF chief executive officer Kelly O’Shanassy said.
“With the Great Barrier Reef in the midst of yet another serious mass coral bleaching event, the stakes for Queensland and Australia are higher than ever.
“Approving a coal mine that produces coal to be burnt through to 2055 is reckless and inappropriate at a time when Australia – and the world – needs to cut emissions quickly. ”
ACF and MCG will be represented in court by the Environmental Defenders Office.
