New Acland Mine#Stage 3
{{Short description|Mine in Queensland, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = New Acland Mine
| image =
| width =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = Australia
| pushpin_label = New Acland Mine
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Australia
| coordinates = {{coord|27.30|S|151.63|E|region:AU|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| place = Acland
| subdivision_type = State
| state/province = Queensland
| country = Australia
| owner = New Hope Group
| official website =
| acquisition year =
| stock_exchange =
| stock_code =
| products = Thermal coal
| financial year =
| amount =
| opening year = 2002
| closing year = 2019, the mine is currently mothballed as extension applications have not been approved}}
The New Acland Mine is located adjacent to Acland township, about 10 km north of Oakey on the Darling Downs in Queensland, Australia. Geologically it is part of the Walloon Coal Measures and contains more than 500 million tonnes of coal that is removed by the open cut method. The mine is owned and operated by New Hope Group.
Stage 1
The mine began operations in 2002.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/world/asia/29coal.html |title=Moving Out One by One as Australia Pursues Coal |author=Norimitsu Onishi |access-date=5 September 2010 |date=28 June 2010 |work=New York Times }} It was officially opened on 13 March 2003 by Premier Peter Beattie.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymercury.com.au/story/2010/08/24/glen-beutel-Acland-New-Hope-Coal-mine/ |title=Fighting for Acland's survival |author=Peter Hackney |access-date=5 September 2010 |date=24 August 2010 |work=Daily Mercury|publisher=APN News & Media}} New Acland Mine supplies Tarong Power Station and both domestic and international markets. The mine has previously supplied Swanbank Power Station.
To supply Tarong Power Station beyond 2010 the Queensland Government has indicated its preferred fuel source will be New Acland connected by a conveyor belt. Local reaction to property resumptions, workmen access and building activities was not well received.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200704/1904295.htm?southqld Residents angry at conveyer belt plans]. ABC News. 23 April 2007. Retrieved on 18 May 2007.{{dead link|date=October 2018}}
To suppress coal dust impacts on communities through which the mine's coal is transported New Hope Coal announced plans to apply a water-based veneer to coal wagons in late 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.aclandproject.com.au/news/2012/new-acland-to-veneer-coal-train-wagons |title=New Acland to veneer coal train wagons |date=26 October 2012 |publisher=New Hope Coal |access-date=1 October 2013 }}
Stage 2
Stage 2 of the mine was opened on the 21 March 2007 by Anna Bligh. A total of 300 staff were expected to be working at the New Acland Mine in 2009,{{cite news |url=http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2009/02/16/chance-strike-gold-coal-mine/ |title=Chance to strike 'gold' at coal mine |author=Madeleine Logan |access-date=5 September 2010 |date=16 February 2009 |work=The Chronicle|publisher=APN News & Media }} producing 4.2 million tonnes of coal a year. 60% of the coal was exported.{{cite news |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/business/new-hope-will-share-the-loot/2008/09/24/1222193833562.html |title=New Hope will share the loot |author=Jamie Freed |access-date=5 September 2010 |date=24 September 2008 |work=Brisbane Times }}
In 2019, the mine was fined $9,461 by the Department of Environment & Science for breaching noise limits more than 30 times.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-26/darling-downs-new-acland-coal-mine-alleged-illegal-mining/12391538 |title=Controversial New Acland Coal mine issued with pre-enforcement letter following alleged illegal mining |last1=Morris |first1=Nathan |last2=Bradfield |first2=Elly |date=26 June 2020 |website=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=28 October 2021 }}
Stage 3
Stage 3 has been challenged and delayed by the Oakey Coal Action Alliance since 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-05/high-court-to-decide-fate-of-new-acland-coal-mine/12311734 |title=New Acland Coal mine saga headed to High Court after leave granted to hear farmers' appeal |last1=Morris |first1=Nathan |last2=Robinson |first2=Lucy |last3=Bradfield |first3=Elly |date=5 June 2020 |website=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=28 October 2021 }} The local land owners are represented by the Environmental Defenders Office.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/03/new-acland-coalmine-expansion-to-be-reassessed-after-high-court-judgment |title=New Acland coalmine expansion to be reassessed after high court judgment |last=Cox |first=Lisa |date= 3 February 2021 |website=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News & Media |access-date=29 October 2021 }} The graziers are concerned that the approval for the mine's expansion will threaten their Darling Downs community and water supply.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/05/new-acland-coalmine-farmers-win-reprieve-in-battle-to-stop-expansion |title=New Acland coalmine: Queensland farmers win reprieve in battle to stop expansion |date=5 June 2020 |website=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News & Media |access-date=29 October 2021 }}
In 2010, Stage 3 was undergoing an environmental impact assessment. This expansion would have extended the operating life of the mine until about 2042.{{cite web |url=http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/projects/mining-and-mineral-processing/coal/new-acland-coal-mine-stage-3-expansion.html |title=New Acland Coal Mine - Stage 3 Expansion |access-date=5 September 2010 |publisher=Department of Infrastructure and Planning |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329230131/http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/projects/mining-and-mineral-processing/coal/new-acland-coal-mine-stage-3-expansion.html |archive-date=29 March 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} It was planned that annual production would rise to 7.5 million tonnes.
In preparation for the mine's expansion directly into the township of Acland most residents left.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1570762.htm |title=Mine expansion sends Qld town packing |author=Francene Norton |access-date=2009-10-23 |date=15 February 2006 |work=The World Today |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }} The last resident in the town, who has refused to leave, is Glenn Beutel.
In March 2012, the incoming Newman government announced it did not support the proposed New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 Project in its then current form.{{cite web|last=New Hope Group|title=About the New Acland Project|url=http://www.aclandproject.com.au/content/about|publisher=New Hope Group|access-date=4 July 2013}} New Hope then entered into discussions with the State Government about options to continue the operation at the mine.
In response to concerns raised in March 2012 by the incoming Queensland Government about the project's potential impacts, the proponent modified the project, including reducing its scope, resulting in a modified project proposal that was 63 per cent, or 2,300 hectares, smaller than the original proposal. New Acland Coal also proposes to move the existing Jondaryan rail coal load-out facility onto the mine site. An eight-kilometre rail spur would connect the facility to the existing rail line. Additional changes to the plan include leaving the Acland town area, including the Tom Doherty Park, the War Memorial and the Acland No 2 Colliery, in place.{{cite web|last=Queensland Coordinator General's Department|url=http://www.coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au/assessments-and-approvals/new-acland-coal-mine-stage-3-expansion.html|publisher=Queensland Coordinator General|title=New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 Project|access-date=4 July 2013}}
The revised project has also been changed so that the mining operations will sit 10 km from the township of Oakey; the introduction of profiling and veneering technology at the project's rail loading facility and no longer require that the Lagoon Creek be diverted for mining operations.{{cite news|last=Toowoomba Chronicle|url=http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/new-hope-plans-bid-expansion-green-toowoomba/1622042/|publisher=The Toowoomba Chronicle|title=New Hope releases new plans in bid for expansion green light|access-date=4 July 2013}}
On 9 November 2012 the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities confirmed it had accepted the modified project proposal. The controlling provisions for the assessment of the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) were unchanged.{{cite web|last=Queensland Coordinator General's Department|url=http://www.coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au/assessments-and-approvals/new-acland-coal-mine-stage-3-expansion.html|publisher=Queensland Coordinator General's Department|title=New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 Project|access-date=4 July 2013}}
On 26 March 2013, the Queensland Coordinator-General released the final Terms of Reference (ToR) for the New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 Project.{{cite web|last=New Hope Corporation|title=New Acland Project|url=http://www.aclandproject.com.au/content/about|publisher=New Hope Corporation|access-date=4 July 2013}}
In 2016, the project passed through the Queensland Land Court where it was described as the largest case of its kind.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/05/acland-coalmine-expansion-activists-lawyers-stress-groundwater-risk-in-closing-arguments |title=New Acland coalmine expansion: activists' lawyers stress water risk in final arguments |last=Robertson |first=Joshua |date=5 October 2016 |website=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News & Media |access-date=29 October 2021 }}
Environmental approval was granted for Stage 3 in 2019. In 2020, the Oakey Coal Action Alliance appealed to the High Court of Australia.
In August 2022, the Queensland government finally gave approval for the mine's expansion.{{cite news |last=Hinchliffe |first=Joe |date=26 August 2022 |title=Queensland resources minister approves expansion of New Acland coalmine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/26/queensland-resources-minister-approves-expansion-of-new-acland-coalmine |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News & Media |access-date=27 August 2022}} The expansion extends the mine's life by 12 years to 2034. Mining resumed in September 2023.[https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/nsw-coal-mine-to-restart-after-18-years-20231130-p5enz7 NSW coal mine to restart after 18 years] Australian Financial Review 30 November 2023
Allegations of breach of environmental law
New Acland Mine was caught drilling 27 illegal bores in 2018 and fined $3,152 by the Queensland government.
Documents obtained under Queensland freedom of information laws show the state Department of Environment and Science believed the Darling Downs miner had committed a “major” breach of environmental laws.
A formal “decision memo” detailed that the mine had conducted exploration drilling activities – including drilling at 27 sites and prepping 41 more – on land not designated for mining activity.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/30/new-acland-coalmine-caught-drilling-illegally-at-27-sites-and-fined-just-3152|title=New Acland coalmine caught drilling illegally at 27 sites – and fined just $3,152|last=Smee|first=Ben|date=2019-07-29|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-11-07|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}
In 2020, the federal environment department found no wrong-doing on behalf of the mine.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-15/darling-downs-mining-lease-frustration/100127812 |title=New Acland coal mine investigation drags on for years, leading to landowners' anger |last=Bradfield |first=Elly |date=15 June 2021 |website=abc.net.au |publisher=ABC News |access-date=28 October 2021 }} Investigations focused on non-compliance in the areas known as West Pit.
On 22 August 2019, New Acland Thermal coal mine workers were made redundant as the stage 3 deadline approached.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/mine-workers-offered-redundancies-deadline-approac/3812225/|title=Acland workers offered redundancies as deadline approaches|last=Gillespie|first=Tom|website=Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-11-07}}
See also
{{portal|Queensland}}