Acland fined $3k for bores

RTI documents reveal State Government investigation

NEW Acland Coal was fined $3153 for drilling 27 exploration bores not mapped in its plan of operations, recently released Right to Information documents from the Department of Environment and Science show.

Lock the Gate Queensland spokeswoman Ellie Smith said New Acland Coal Mine owner New Hope made $160 million after-tax profit in the six months to January 2019.

“This latest paltry fine, kept secret by the department, will do nothing to stop New Hope’s irresponsible behaviour,” she said.

The fine was issued to New Acland on June 28, 2018.

“This fine of $3153 is only one twentieth of the maximum allowable penalty, yet for some reason the Queensland Department of Environment and Science thought it would act as a deterrent.”

A document explaining the reasons for the fine said NAC had drilled and rehabilitated 27 exploration bores within its Stage 2 mining lease that were not included in the company’s approved plan of operations.

NAC provided information to the department that a further 41 drill sites had been prepared and not drilled.

The document said NAC had responded to a pre-enforcement letter from DES, stating it was not necessary or practical to identify exploration-drilling activities (in its mapping) when exploration is clearly identified elsewhere in the plan of operations as an activity that will be conducted”.

“It is self-evident that exploration would occur in areas of the mining lease outside of the main pit and infrastructure areas”.

In a statement to The Chronicle, New Hope chief development officer Ben Armitage said the fine was a result of a minor technicality in respect of reporting requirements “that have now been repealed”.

“It has never been suggested that New Acland was not entitled to conduct the exploration activities,” he said.

New Acland Coal was fined $9461 earlier this year for breaching noise limits at the mine. New Hope is waiting on approvals for its Stage 3 expansion of New Acland Mine.

The company said it would be forced to cut about 150 jobs if it does not secure the rest of its approvals from the State Government by September 1.

It has been 12 years since New Hope first sought approvals for Stage 3, a process that has been tied up in a series of legal battles.