Statement: Have your say on the New Acland Coal project

[ozbob]

Acting Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Ian Walker

Have your say on the New Acland Coal project

The public has been invited to comment on a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 project near Oakey.

Acting Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Ian Walker said the Coordinator General's release of the proponent's draft EIS for public feedback was an important step in the environmental assessment of this proposal.

"The Newman Government committed to ensuring co-existence between the agricultural and resources pillars of the Queensland economy, while protecting the environment," Mr Walker said.

"The rigorous assessments undertaken by the independent Coordinator General, Barry Broe are an important part of keeping that promise.

"In keeping with our 2012 election commitment, we did not support New Acland Coal's original 2007 expansion plan due to its effect on high quality agricultural land and proximity to local townships.

"The proponents then revised the scope of the expansion, and in November 2012 the EIS process recommenced for a smaller project."

New Acland Coal is proposing to expand its current open-cut operations to extend the mine life to the year 2029, producing up to 7.5 million tonnes of coal per annum at full production.

"I invite the community to have its say on the draft EIS, which supersedes the previous EIS for the larger project – anyone who made a submission on the previous EIS will need to make a new one," Mr Walker said.

"The Coordinator General will consider submissions as part of his evaluation of the project's environmental impacts, which are being assessed under the bilateral agreement between the State and the Commonwealth," he said.

Coordinator General Barry Broe said the draft EIS satisfactorily addressed the project's terms of reference, which included issues relating to land and economic impacts, surface water and groundwater, flora and fauna, dust and noise, and transport and traffic.

The draft EIS can be viewed online at www.aclandproject.com.au or in hard copy at:

    New Hope Community Information Centre, Shop 90/88 Campbell Street, Oakey
    Toowoomba Regional Council service centres at 89 Mocatta Street, Goombungee; 64 Campbell Street, Oakey; and 4 Little Street, Toowoomba
    State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank, Brisbane
    National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra.

Submissions can be emailed to newaclandproject@coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au or posted to the Coordinator-General, c/- EIS Project Manager New Acland Project, Coordinated Project Delivery, Office of the Coordinator-General, PO Box 15517, City East Qld 4002.

Submissions close at 5pm on 3 March 2014. 

[ENDS] 17 January 2014