Spectre of void raised on Acland

OPPONENTS of a $900 million coal expansion plan say the project will leave a destructive void in the Darling Downs forever.

Yesterday, Oakey Coal Action Alliance addressed Queensland’s highest court about the New Acland stage three plan’s groundwater impacts

The alliance has also cited the issue of intergenerational equity, a concept relating to stewardship or fairness between generations.

Yesterday, alliance barrister Dr Chris McGrath said the mine would manifest a big hole and body of evaporating water.

This would impact the environment “indefinitely”, he said.

Barrister Saul Holt, also appearing for the alliance, said three proposed pits dug at 6080m would intersect rock layers, including basalt and sandstone aquifers.

Mr Holt said even New Acland Coal studies showed stage three would impact groundwater quantities for lo- cal farmers.

He said NAC’s own modelling had “deficiencies” but still showed groundwater impacts as far as Jondaryan, more than 13km from Acland.

Appeal Court President Walter Sofronoff asked if the mining lease authorised NAC to dig soil but because digging could impact water, the company would still need a water licence.

“Like Shylock, your bond covers the flesh but not the blood. And here, the mining lease covers the earth but not the water?”

The Alliance previously argued the Land Court could not consider the mine’s wider economic benefits, because the mine could not proceed without getting a water licence.

But Land Court president Fleur Kingham rejected that argument, saying NAC would only need a water licence “for some, but not all” activities.

NAC asked for a judicial review after a Land Court Member Paul Anthony Smith recommended stage three not be approved.

The appeal court hearing continues.