Mudgee locals are furious after the Federal Albanese Government approved a new thermal coal mine expansion in the district.
The approval of Glencore’s Ulan coal mine expansion, published yesterday, comes as Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen prepares to announce a new 2035 emissions reduction target - the same year the mine is now due to finish operating.
The two year expansion, which would only begin in 2033, would be responsible for 42 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution, and would mine an additional 19 million tonnes of coal. It would also require the disturbance of 634 hectares, and poses a threat to the endangered Large Eared Pied Bat, critically endangered Box Gum Woodland, and other nationally threatened species.
The publication of the decision comes after the Mudgee and District Environment Group launched a new legal challenge against the NSW Government’s approval of the same project, arguing the state’s environmental assessment had been inadequate because it failed to consider the project’s climate impacts.
Bev Smiles from the Mudgee District Environment Group said, “The Albanese Government continues to recklessly approve new thermal coal projects when we know they are fuelling climate change and extreme weather that is harming Australians.
“It is shameful that Australia’s environmental laws fail to require climate change consideration in decisions around dangerous, polluting coal mines.
“The direct impacts of coal mining have also caused huge damage to our local area - they have drained groundwater, depopulated our community, and wrought havoc on our local environment - we can’t afford any more harm.”
Lock the Gate Alliance National Coordinator Carmel Flint said, “The climate impacts that have wreaked devastation across Australia have been ongoing. We have flipped from catastrophic fires to devastating floods in the space of five short years.
“The Albanese Government needs to wake up and realise the approval of new and expanding coal projects is having a direct impact on Australian communities and the environment that Australians love.”
ENDS