A new alliance of community groups today announced plans tackle the issue of particulate pollution along the West Moreton coal train line.

Clean Air Queensland, a community alliance of groups and individuals including the Lock the Gate Alliance, Friends of the Earth, Rosewood District Protection Organisation, Oakey Coal Action Alliance, and Parents Against Coal Dust has formed as a result of community concern on the health impacts of coal dust.

Clean Air Queensland spokesperson Hannah Aulby said, “Like the communities in the Hunter Valley, we too deserve to know the facts about the particulate pollution coming from coal mining and trains.”

The NSW Government's air quality monitoring network in the Hunter Valley has issued its 100th air pollution alert for the year, just a few days before the beginning of a court case against a major new mine proposal that would increase harmful pollution events in the region.

The Lock the Gate Alliance and the Oakey Coal Action Alliance have today welcomed the report of the Senate inquiry into the Impacts on health of air quality in Australia, calling on the Queensland Government to immediately implement the recommendations to protect community health.

“This Senate Inquiry again highlights that coal dust pollution is a serious health concern and one that should be legislated upon immediately,” said Oakey Coal Action Alliance spokesperson Pete Faulkner said today.

Lock The Gate Alliance has called on the Federal Government to ensure that 39 coal and gas projects, including many controversial proposals, are captured by the new water trigger in Federal environment laws, before the election on September 7th.

“The community applauded the passage of the water trigger Bill through parliament in June, but are still waiting on a decision as to whether it will apply to many highly controversial coal and gas projects” said Carmel Flint, Campaign Co-ordinator with Lock the Gate Alliance.

"There is just one month to make sure that the water trigger applies to a swag of contentious projects that have already submitted applications under Federal environment laws, or their impact on water resources will be completely ignored."

An Environmental Defenders Office report released today confirms that the Federal Parliament has wide constitutional powers to control coal and unconventional gas mining and that far-reaching national reforms as called for by Lock the Gate Alliance are possible.

The report proves that the Federal Parliament has the power to deliver on Lock The Gate Alliance’s national campaign, Call to Country. It identifies nine similar major reforms that could be implemented, including ground-breaking proposals for:

1. A new national law to protect food-producing land from coal and gas mining and give farmers the right to reject mining on their land.
2. A national Environmental Protection Authority and a new Clean Air and Water Act to protect human health and water resources.
3. Amendments to the Customs Act to prohibit exports of coal and gas from areas important to the protection of existing Australian industries, significant natural resources and communities.