Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland (EnvA) has written to Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt urging the Department to review public submissions on the proposed Peak Downs Mine Power Line Realignment Project, warning that significant environmental concerns remain unresolved.
The project, proposed by BM Alliance Coal Operations Pty Ltd (BMA), would clear more than 80 hectares of land to relocate powerlines associated with mining operations at the Peak Downs Mine in the Bowen Basin.
EnvA Director Dr Coral Rowston said the organisation was concerned that issues raised during public consultation had been “noted” by BMA but not adequately addressed.
“Public consultation is supposed to be a meaningful part of environmental assessment, not a box-ticking exercise,” Dr Rowston said.
“We are concerned that substantial issues raised by community members, including cumulative impacts on threatened species, the adequacy of proposed offsets, and potential split referral concerns, have effectively been dismissed rather than properly addressed.”
EnvA has asked the Department to independently review the submissions received during the assessment process rather than relying solely on the proponent’s interpretation of the issues raised.
The organisation argues that the powerline realignment cannot be considered in isolation from broader mining activities and should be assessed in the context of ongoing and proposed expansion projects at Peak Downs.
“The Bowen Basin is already experiencing ongoing habitat loss from existing, approved and proposed coal mining developments.
“Every additional clearing proposal contributes to the cumulative decline of threatened species and ecological communities. Looking at projects one at a time risks understating the true environmental impact,” Dr Rowston said.
EnvA has also raised concerns about the project’s proposed offset strategy, including questions about whether the nominated offset site can deliver meaningful conservation outcomes for threatened species such as the koala and greater glider.
“The proponent’s own documentation acknowledges that if koalas or greater gliders are not detected at the offset site after several years, an alternative offset may need to be found,” Dr Rowston said.
“That raises serious questions about whether the offset site is suitable in the first place and whether the proposal can genuinely compensate for the habitat that would be lost.”
EnvA is also concerned that aspects of the offset calculations may underestimate the amount of habitat required to compensate for impacts on threatened species.
“The Department has a responsibility to assess these matters and ensure environmental decisions are based on robust evidence rather than assumptions that favour development outcomes,” Dr Rowston said.
EnvA has urged the Minister to ensure that public submissions are fully considered before any decision is made on the project.
EnvA - CQ 