Proposed refusal of Central Queensland Coal mine

The proposed decision by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to reject the Clive Palmer-owned Central Queensland Coal mine just 10km upstream from the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area has been welcomed by central Queensland conservation group Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland (EnvA).

The refusal of the project had been delayed by former Environment Minister Sussan Ley for over a year since the Queensland Environment Department recommended it not proceed in April 2021 due to its irreversible and destructive impacts on the Great Barrier Reef. 

Dr Coral Rowston, Director of EnvA said, “This is a victory for the Reef, for tourism, for communities that depend on this World Heritage Area for their livelihoods and for the climate. It is a relief that the new Environment Minister has listened to expert scientists and has proposed to reject the Central Queensland Coal project, just 10km from the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.”

“Pollution from this project would have destroyed critical habitat in Broad Sound for dugongs and turtles, and of course the coal from the project would fuel climate change which would create further coral bleaching on our Reef.”

“While it is encouraging that this project was rejected due to its impacts on the Reef and the World Heritage Area, it is disappointing that the Minister did not also reject it due to its impacts on endangered greater gliders and koalas that live on the mine site. These species were recently listed as endangered and allowing a coal mine to destroy their essential habitat is not the way to protect them from extinction.”

“This would be the first coal project to be rejected after an assessment under Federal environmental laws, but if Minister Plibersek is serious about protecting the Reef, it can’t be the last to be rejected. The Minister has many other coal mines and projects on her desk waiting to be approved – including 17 in Central Queensland.

“Mining and burning coal is fuelling climate change, and causing coral bleaching on the Reef. Even the International Energy Agency has warned that communities around the world, and the safe climate they depend on, cannot sustain new coal projects,” said Dr Coral Rowston. 

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