Acland wait ‘taking a toll on farmers’

THE Oakey Coal Action Alliance says the wait on a decision over the New Acland Stage 3 Project’s environmental authority has “taken a considerable toll on the health and well-being of local landholders”.

Following last year’s Land Court recommendation to reject the mine, New Hope Group was expecting Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham to provide advice to the Department of Environment and Science as the department deliberates over whether or not to approve the company’s EA. The Chronicle

understands Dr Lynham did not provide any advice to the DES on the matter by yesterday’s deadline.

Oakey Coal Action Alliance’s Paul King said community members around the mine site “have been receiving contradicting pieces of information from the government and are being taken for an emotional rollercoaster”.

The DES now has until February 14 to decide on New Acland Stage 3 Project’s EA.

A New Hope Group spokeswoman said the company was “committed to delivering its New Acland Stage 3 Project and securing jobs for its 288 employees and 500 contractors who work at New Acland Mine”.