Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland (EnvA) has expressed deep disappointment at the approval of an extension to BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s (BMA) Saraji Mine, saying the decision demonstrates that the Albanese Government cannot credibly claim to be taking meaningful action on climate change while continuing to approve new and expanded coal projects.
EnvA had called for the Saraji Mine Grevillea Pit Continuation Project to be refused, warning it would result in further habitat destruction, additional pressure on water resources and decades of additional greenhouse gas emissions. The Project will extend the mine footprint by approximately 220 hectares and prolong coal mining at the site for another 30 years.
EnvA Director Dr Coral Rowston said the approval exposed a fundamental contradiction in the Albanese Government’s climate policy.
“If the Albanese Government keeps approving new and expansion coal projects, then its climate policy is clearly designed to make the climate crisis worse.
“The Government cannot claim to be taking action on climate change while approving coal and gas projects that undermine global climate action and add to global heating.
“Every new coal mine and expansion locks in more pollution at precisely the time the world needs to rapidly reduce emissions.”
EnvA’s submission warned that the Project would continue coal mining for another three decades, resulting in additional greenhouse gas emissions without a detailed pathway for mitigating those emissions.
Dr Rowston said the Albanese Government appeared more willing to accommodate the interests of major fossil fuel companies than to take urgent action to protect Australian communities.
“The Albanese Government is letting greedy polluters like BMA call the shots instead of taking urgent action to protect our communities from floods, fires and heatwaves made worse by coal and gas.
“Coal and gas corporations are making enormous profits while increasing their pollution, while everyday Australians are struggling with the cost of living and the growing costs of climate disasters.
“The Government needs to protect Australians from the economic and environmental harm of climate change, not prioritise the short-term profits of major polluters.”
EnvA said the risks associated with the Saraji extension went well beyond climate pollution, with threatened species and communities, water resources and special places such as the Great Barrier Reef all under threat.
“This project will impact numerous threatened species and ecological communities. Habitat for koalas, greater gliders, ornamental snakes and squatter pigeons will be destroyed.
“The mine is located within the Fitzroy River catchment, which ultimately flows to the Great Barrier Reef.
“Contaminated mine water released into waterways within the catchment can place additional pressure on water quality downstream.
“During the last wet season, the Saraji Coal Mine released well over 2,000 megalitres of mine-affected water into local waterways. That is equivalent to more than 860 Olympic-sized swimming pools of polluted water from just one of the over 50 coal mines in the Reef catchment.
“We are being asked to accept more coal mining, more habitat destruction, more pressure on our waterways and another 30 years of greenhouse gas emissions.”
Dr Rowston said that this is far from responsible environmental decision-making.
“It is a decision to continue the damage and leave future generations to deal with the consequences.”
EnvA said the approval was inconsistent with warnings from the International Energy Agency and the need for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels.
“Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of coal and gas. What we export as coal and gas, we import back as fires, floods, heatwaves and droughts.
Dr Rowston said the Saraji Grevillea Pit project was not BMA’s only proposed coal mine expansion in Central Queensland.
“The Albanese Government is also considering the larger Saraji East extension, as well as an application for the Peak Downs Mine Continuation Project.
“Together, these projects put another nail in the coffin of threatened species and communities in the already highly disturbed northern Bowen Basin.
“Planning to mine coal well into the future is a slap in the face to every Australian who cares about climate change.
“Approving new coal mines and expansions in the middle of a climate crisis is an act of climate denial that puts our communities, wildlife and future generations at risk.”
EnvA is calling on the Albanese Government to:
- stop approving new and expanded coal and gas projects;
- develop a science-aligned plan to phase out coal and gas exports;
- end taxpayer subsidies that support fossil fuel production; and
- put the protection of communities, nature and future generations ahead of fossil fuel profits.
EnvA - CQ 