Federal minister cancels two Queensland coal projects   

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek says she has cancelled two coal projects in Queensland.   

New Daily
May 5 2023

Two proposed Queensland coal mines have been cancelled after failing to prove their environmental credentials.

The China Stone Coal mine project is a proposal by MacMines Austasia to construct and operate a coal mine in Belyando.

In 2018, further information was requested about the potential impacts on threatened species and water resources.

But more than four years later, nothing has been provided.

The project aimed to produce 55 million tonnes a year of coal across 50 years.

The Range Coal project is a proposal by Stanmore Coal to construct and operate an open-cut coal mine and processing facilities 25km southeast of Wandoan.

In 2013, further information was requested about the impact to threatened species and water resources, but nothing has been provided.

The two proponents wrote to the government in 2020 indicating they wanted to progress the projects but to date have not submitted the additional information requested of them.

The original material submitted to the government might no longer be current because impacts to the environment, species present in the area, and species considered threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act have changed.

“I’ve been clear I will have zero tolerance for businesses who refuse to provide adequate information about the impact their projects will have on nature,” Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek told AAP on Friday.

“If companies aren’t willing to show how they will protect nature, then I’m willing to cancel their projects – and that’s exactly what I’ve done.”

Nationals MP Keith Pitt, the former resources minister whose electorate was set to benefit from downstream jobs created from the China Stone project, said the decision would damage regional Queensland.

“We desperately need those high-paying jobs,” Mr Pitt told Sky News.

He said federal environmental laws were about protecting natural resources and ensuring ways could be found to offset the impacts of mining, including rehabilitation of land.

“We need that economic boost, in the regions in particular.”