Extract from ABC News
Queensland businessman Clive Palmer's proposal to build a coal mine near the Great Barrier Reef has been dealt a significant blow, with a report by the state Environment Department deeming the project "not suitable".
Key points:
- Clive Palmer has proposed to build an open-cut coal mine about 130 kilometres north-west of Rockhampton
- A report from the Environment Department found the environmental risks were "significant"
- It would sit just 10 kilometres from wetlands that feed into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
The department prepared an environmental impact assessment of the project for the Commonwealth, after previously allowing it to proceed to the assessment stage under the federal government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
The report from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science found that, notwithstanding potential economic benefits from the project, the environmental risks were "significant".
"The
project presents a number of significant risks due to its location,
particularly its proximity to important environmental values, including
the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area, the Broad
Sound Fish Habitat Area, Tooloombah Creek, Deep Creek, the Styx River
Estuary, and associated groundwater resources and groundwater dependent
ecosystems," the report stated.
Mr Palmer has proposed to build an open-cut coal mine about 130 kilometres north-west of Rockhampton.
The location would put it just 10 kilometres from the wetlands that feed into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
The Central Queensland Coal proposal would produce both thermal and coking coal, and include two open-cut pits, two waste-rock piles, and a dam, as well as the site areas for infrastructure — with the total project area about 2,661 hectares.
The company said the mine would be operational for about 19 years, with construction, decommissioning and site rehabilitation adding a further five years to the total operation of the site.
'The project presents a number of unacceptable risks'
Although Mr Palmer's company had submitted changes to the original mine plan in response to submissions from agencies and independent experts, they were found to be insufficient.
"On balance I consider that the project presents a number of unacceptable risks that cannot be adequately managed or avoided, due primarily to the location of the project, but also in part to the lack of effective mitigation measures proposed in the EIS (environment impact statement)," the report by Christopher Loveday, director of technical and assessment services for the department, said.
"Taking into account all of the relevant information, I have determined that overall, the project poses a number of unacceptable risks and that the project, as proposed, is not suitable. As such, I consider that the project is not suitable to proceed."
In particular, the report noted the potential impacts that controlled and uncontrolled releases of contaminated mine water could have on the saltmarsh, mangrove, seagrass and coral communities of the Great Barrier Reef and threatened marine migratory species that use its wetlands.
"Flood events leading to releases would result in mine pollutants and sediment being transported in a flood plume to the inner or mid-shelf of the GBR before settling," the report said.
"In addition, water management infrastructure including levees around the mine pits, water diversion banks, water storage dams, sediment basins and the haul road have a significant risk of partial or complete failure due to the highly erodible material available for construction."
Central Queensland Coal confident project can still go ahead
In a statement, managing director of Central Queensland Coal Nui Harris said the company believed there was still a pathway for the mine to go ahead.
"Key areas to be addressed are project impacts to the receiving environment, groundwater resources and the Bruce Highway, which have been largely dealt with within the environmental impact statement," Mr Harris said.
Mr Palmer has been contacted for comment.
A spokesperson for the Queensland Department of Environment said in a statement the final decision for the project had not been made.
"The final decision for approval for Commonwealth matters such as the Great Barrier Reef now rests with [the] Commonwealth Minister for the Environment," the statement said.
"The Commonwealth Minister has 30 business days to make a decision, unless further information is required."
However, the state's assessment report would inform whether to grant Mr Palmer's company the mining lease.
Environment groups say government has 'listened'
David Cazzulino from the Australian Marine Conservation Society said the group was "relieved" by the report's findings.
"We are relieved the Queensland Department of Environment and Science has listened to the warnings from expert scientists that building a huge open-cut coal mine so close to our reef would cause serious and irreversible damage to a variety of important habitats, including important turtle and dugong strongholds," Mr Cazzulino.
That sentiment was echoed by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).
WWF Australia spokesperson Richard Leck welcomed the Queensland government's taking into account the advice from the Independent Expert Science Committee.
"The impact of the mine would have been highly detrimental to the health of the Great Barrier Reef," Mr Leck said.
"WWF Australia now calls on the Australian government to accept the Queensland government's recommendation and rule out approval of this mine," he said.
Co-ordinator at Capricorn Conservation Council, Coral Rowston, also said the decision was a "huge relief".
"It's a really big win for the koalas and the greater gliders that do live on site and on the adjacent waterways," she said. "They will now retain their homes."
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