The news story, “Coal is not a dirty word”, in last weekends’ CQ Today has outraged Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland – a local conservation group concerned about the impacts of coal mining on koalas, greater gliders and our environment.
In the story, Pembroke made claims that they are doing as much as any conservation and wildlife organisation because they are:
- “Doing it from a scientific base, not because it’s associated with a mine.”
- “The research we’re doing on the koala and greater glider is hopefully for the benefit of these species Australia-wide.”
- “Are the first ones to be allowed to research the greater gliders and tag them and we’ve found the biggest threat to greater gliders are feral cats.”
Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland Director Dr Coral Rowston said:
“What a load of misinformation presented in this recent media story!
”The reality is that Pembroke’s Olive Downs Coal Complex has approval to clear over 5,500ha of koala habitat and over 4,500ha of greater glider habitat. The coal mine footprint is over 25,000ha which is huge and will impact on the habitat of many threatened species and important habitats, and will limit the connectivity between suitable and sometimes critical wildlife habitat.
“The major threats to koalas and greater gliders, as noted in recovery plans and threatened species action plans, are habitat clearing and the impacts of climate change weather events.
“Pembroke’s Olive Downs Coal Complex is clearing significant areas of koala and greater glider habitat and should not be given any credit for the dubious research promoted in this story.
“The significant loss of threatened species habitat combined with the greenhouse gas emissions leading to increased severity and frequency of droughts, heatwaves and bushfires can not be mitigated by tagging and tracking a few animals and claiming this will benefit the species ‘Australia-wide’.
“To state that there is limited research on greater gliders and to put the blame on feral cats for the decline in greater gliders is just ludicrous. The science is clear. Habitat loss and climate change are the biggest threats to koalas and greater gliders.
“Receiving an environmental award from the mining industry does not mean that the mining company is environmentally responsible, and monetary investment does not replace the immediate loss of habitat or prevent the climate change impacts from the Olive Downs Coal Complex.”
EnvA - CQ 