Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland (EnvA) has criticised the Federal Government’s decision to allow the proposed Corvus Metallurgical Coal Project to be assessed under a bilateral process with the Queensland Government, warning it undermines national environmental protections.
The decision means the nearly 5,000 ha greenfield coal mine will be assessed as a project of State significance under Queensland processes.
EnvA Director Dr Coral Rowston said the move raises serious concerns about the independence and rigour of the federal assessment process.
“This is a clear case of the tail wagging the dog,” Dr Rowston said.
“A project of this scale – with significant impacts on threatened species, water resources and greenhouse gas emissions – should be subject to a robust and independent federal assessment.”
EnvA previously made a submission to the Federal Environment Minister highlighting major concerns, including the lack of detailed information provided, the scale of habitat destruction, risks to water resources, and the project’s contribution to climate change.
“We recommended that this project be refused based on the significant impacts and the lack of information provided to label it as a project of State significance.”
Despite this, the Federal Government has opted to rely on Queensland’s desired outcome of fast tracking resource projects.
“This decision effectively hands control of the assessment to the State, despite the clear national environmental implications,” Dr Rowston said.
EnvA acknowledged that State and federal processes operate under different legislation, but said the current approach risks weakening national oversight.
“The bilateral agreement underpinning this process has not yet been updated to reflect recent changes to the EPBC Act,” Dr Rowston said.
“It raises serious questions about how a project can be assessed under arrangements that are not yet finalised.”
EnvA is calling on the Federal Government to take a stronger role in assessing projects with significant national environmental impacts, particularly for fossil fuel projects.
“Projects like Corvus Coal should be assessed transparently and independently at the national level – at least until a new bilateral agreement is in place,” Dr Rowston said.
“Anything less risks failing to protect Australia’s threatened species, water resources and our climate.”
EnvA - CQ 
In this time of increasing Climate Change disasters, what are thinking?
A friend of mine who has lived most of his nearly 70 years on Great Keppel Island, a man I really admire for his intelligence and knowledge about the island, told me awhile ago he had observed a gradual increase in water temperature and a slight increase in ocean level.
My friend lives near a beach, just a 30 second walk for a swim and having lived there for so long he has the time to notice things changing around him. He said to me, “this is climate change here on GKI, happening right now”. He and his wife have been strong advocates in the Climate Change area, their little cottage house is full of solar panels and batteries which he designed and installed himself. Whereas when he was young his parents burnt kerosine lamps for light.
He and his wife are so against the the fuel that powers our grid, fossil fuels which rise to Climate Change.
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