Qld Peak environment body takes mining giant to court

The Queensland Conservation Council has lodged objections to the granting of a coal mining lease by Xstrata Coal Queensland Pty Ltd.
The QCC say that the proposed mine will cause “significant greenhouse gas emissions that will be released into the atmosphere as a result of the extraction, transportation and use of coal from the new mine.”

The new mine is an extension of the existing Newlands Wollombi No.2 project Coal Mine at Suttor Creek, 129 km west of Mackay. The mine will produce up to 2.5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of black coal.

The QCC says it estimates that emissions over 15 years from the coal extracted at the mine will be equivalent to approximately 15% of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions - as much as 6–96 metric Megatonnes of CO2.

Nigel Parratt, acting Coordinator of the QCC says that “Unless urgent and major steps are taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, global warming and climate change is likely to have severe impacts on the Queensland and global environment, including the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage Areas.”

“Given the impacts of climate change on the Queensland environment, economy and its people, QCC believes that Xstrata Mines should be a responsible corporate citizen and mitigate these greenhouse emissions. There are a range of options currently available to the company. They need to reduce emissions, and they need to offset emissions by equivalent investment in renewable energy or in carbon sinks.”

A three day hearing for the QCC to present their views in court has been set for January 31st.

For more information and to find out how you can help visit the QCC website here: http://www.qccqld.org.au/lrt_appeal/lrt.htm