Article: Rinehart's Alpha coal mine approved

[ozbob]

From Sky News click here!

Rinehart's Alpha coal mine approved

Rinehart's Alpha coal mine approved
Updated: 14:47, Thursday August 23, 2012

The federal government has approved Gina Rinehart's multi-billion dollar Alpha coal mine and its associated rail line in central Queensland.

The $6.4 billion GVK-Hancock Coal project slated for the Galilee Basin is co-owned by Indian company GVK and billionaire miner Ms Rinehart.

It involves a mine 40km northwest of Alpha, which lies between Emerald and Barcaldine, and a 495km rail line to Abbot Point, north of Bowen.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke says the project was granted with 19 strict environmental conditions which would ensure the Great Barrier Reef was protected.

He says the process took three months longer than it should have because the Queensland government hadn't properly assessed the environmental risks when it approved the mine in May.

'I'm satisfied that we have now put in place the required additional conditions for the protection of the environment,' Mr Burke said in a statement.

GVK said it was delighted with the decision.

'Ultimately, we believe the overall assessment process has resulted in best practice environmental protection outcomes,' chairman GVK Reddy said.

The project will be the first coal mine in the resource-rich Galilee Basin and is expected to export 30 million tonnes of coal annually, worth about $3 billion.

Mr Burke said the company must take action to offset the impact on threatened species, and draw up plans to minimise stormwater and sediment runoff into the Burdekin Dam and the Great Barrier Reef, among other conditions.

[colinw]

ABC News -> Landholders 'bitterly disappointed' about approval of Alpha coal project

The Federal Government's environmental approval of Queensland's Alpha coal project, rail corridor and port has reignited concerns of landowners in affected areas, who were hoping for significant changes to the proposal.

The proposed mine, 40 kilometres north-west of Alpha, marks the beginning of what could become a string of coal mines in the region.

Western Queensland landholder Peter Anderson says one of the main concerns of landowners is the 500-kilometre rail corridor to the coast, which would involve compulsory acquisition and cut through a delicate floodplain.

He says he's disappointed with the lack of consultation.

"They couldn't have given it to a worse positioned corridor in landholders' view, and the reason being is it follows the flood plain for the greatest length," he said.

"Landholders haven't been consulted and we were hoping that the minister himself or his advisers would come and talk to landholders and hear our concerns and we are bitterly disappointed."

[ozbob]

This railway line is to be a heavy standard gauge line if it goes ahead.