Landowner right to resist mining restored
THE State Government has restored a legal avenue that will allow landholders to take action against mining projects.
The third party objection rights legislation has previously been used to delay billions of dollars in mining development in Queensland, including the Galilee Basin. Last year, the LNP axed it.
The restoration of the rights has led to the Government being accused by the LNP of bowing to environmental groups and independent balance- of- power Speaker Peter Wellington while clogging courts with legal action.
State Development
and Mining Minister Anthony Lynham said the amendments would allow landowners to object, to support sustainable and appropriate development as well as ensure the community was aware of and had appropriate input to them.
“Landholders and community members deserve the right to be heard and to object to ( Acland) expansion project if they wish. It’s their right for this objection to be heard in the Land Court,’’ he said.
The Government will sidestep parliamentary committee scrutiny of the legislation by declaring it urgent.
Green groups say the move restores a key element of democracy. But Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said it would reopen an avenue used by activists to frustrate mining projects and cost the state millions in lost royalties.