Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland (EnvA) is angry and frustrated that 67 hectares of land, including nearly 50 hectares of koala habitat, has been cleared for a coal mine in the Bowen Basin without any community consultation or federal government approval.
Vitrinite made an application to the Queensland department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) for approval to proceed with a bulk sampling project as part of the larger Vulcan South coal mine proposal. The Environmental Authority was subsequently issued in March 2024, but with no opportunity for public to make comment. No offsets have been required despite the many threatened species and communities that will be impacted.
EnvA only became aware of this project when DESI issued a Direction Notice in relation to unauthorised clearing at the bulk sampling project just three months after the approval was issued.
The bulk sampling project is located within the proposed Vulcan South coal mine footprint. This project has received State government approval but is still going through Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act assessment process.
EnvA formally wrote to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek on 8 August 2024 outlining concerns about the illegal clearing and seeking assurance that the department was making enquiries into the matter and taking appropriate enforcement action. Despite follow-up correspondence including images of the clearing, more than eight weeks have passed, no response has been received, and work is continuing at the site.
EnvA also wrote to Queensland’s Environment Minister in relation to potential non-compliance with the Direction Notice and seeking that the project was referred for assessment under the EPBC Act.
Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland Director Dr Coral Rowston said:
“We reported Vitrinite’s clearing of koala habitat two months ago but have received no communication or any assurance from Minster Plibersek that the environment department are even looking into it. Meanwhile, koala habitat and other threatened species habitat is being destroyed right now for this so-called ‘test’ coal mine without EPBC Act approval.
“The fact that a coal company can illegally clear koala habitat for a coal mine and the Minister and environment department does nothing is a shocking indictment on Australia’s implementation of environmental laws.
“Minister Plibersek has made bold statements about stopping extinctions, cracking down on illegal land clearing and creating a new environmental ‘tough cop on the beat’. But our environment needs real action to protect it, not just catch phrases.
“We’re calling for Minister Plibersek to issue an urgent stop work order and immediately investigate Vitrinite’s unlawful clearing of koala habitat at its Vulcan South coal mine and hold Vitrinite to account.
“The Environment Minister must also reject Vitrinite’s application for its Vulcan South coal mine which would allow this clearing to expand over 1000 hectares of koala and squatter pigeon habitat.
“Minister Plibersek is facing decisions on more than two dozen coal mines that are seeking her approval to clear koala habitat. Coal mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin are double trouble for koalas. They destroy critical habitat and they turbocharge climate change which impacts on koalas through more extreme droughts, heatwaves and bushfires.
“Approving any coal mine at all in the midst of a climate crisis is reckless. Approving coal mines that plan to bulldoze endangered koala habitat is reckless in the extreme.”
EnvA - CQ 