Workers will leave town

Union warns of a mass exodus in Oakey in wake of New Acland call

THE CFMEU believes a significant portion of the population of Oakey will depart the small town should New Acland’s stage three expansion not go ahead.

Michael Hartin, of the CFMEU, believes the current workforce has no reason to stay in Oakey after an amendment to the mine’s environmental authority was knocked back on Wednesday.

“If it is not approved certainly that means that 60 to 70 per cent of the current workforce will be forced out of town,” he said.

“It certainly was a disappointing decision for us and me as the local CFMEU rep but we are well aware of the government’s commitment to supporting regional jobs and communities.”

The decision by the Department of Environment and Science means New Hope Group’s project cannot obtain a mining lease or an associated water licence.

The company is set to challenge the Land Court’s recommendation that the mine be rejected with a judicial review in the Supreme Court next month.

Should that decision also get knocked back, Mr Hartin believes there could be dire consequences for the Toowoomba region.

“It won’t just impact Oakey it will be in towns like Goombungee, Highfields and Jondaryan,” he said.

“There’s more than 300 full-time employees and 500 contractors.”

❝ If it is not approved certainly that means that 60 to 70 per cent of the current workforce will be forced out of town.

— Michael Hartin

Shares in New Hope Corporation on the Australian Stock Exchange have dropped 7.2% since Monday at the time of writing.