A Land Court case against the proposed Galilee Coal Project, in Queensland, was launched yesterday by a consortium of environmental groups.
Expected to last up to three weeks, GVK Hancock will defend the environmental credentials of its massive $6.4billion coal and rail project, against the concerns of the Coast and Country Association Queensland,(backed by Queensland’s Environmental Defenders’ Office), the Mackay Conservation Group and an a number of landholders and activists.
The consortium is asking the court to revoke Alpha’s approved mining lease and environmental authority.
Mackay Conservation Group’s co-ordinator, Patricia Julien, told the Mackay Mercury her main concerns with the project included the downstream impact of the mine, water supply, and the planned clearing of thousands of hectares of land.
“It’s certainly going to damage water supplies for surrounding land owners,” she said.
“Our information is that by 2017, thermal coal won’t be in demand as strongly as it is now.
“We fear that demand will drop off and the mines will be automated so there are very few jobs that will be produced once they construct the railway lines.
“There’s not much in it for Queensland.”
When the State Government approved the project in August they claimed the project was expected to create over 6000 jobs in construction and operation.
On the first day of proceedings, barrister Damian Clothier QC said Alpha’s 30million tonnes of exported coal added up to just 0.05% of global coal production.
Mr Clothier said given worldwide demand for coal, any reduction in coal production would be quickly filled by a competitor.
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