The Olive Downs Coal Mine’s environmental approvals should be reassessed after new footage was obtained showing now-endangered koalas - including a mother and joey - and greater gliders in the path of the expanding project, says community group Lock the Gate Alliance.
Late last year, Lock the Gate Alliance conducted specialised thermal drone surveys of bushland that will be impacted to make way for the next stages of the expanding Olive Downs Coal Mine, in Central Queensland.
Footage of endangered koalas within and next to the expanding mine footprint, including a mother and joey, is available here.
Footage of endangered greater gliders within and next to the expanding mine footprint is available here.
A map identifying where each animal was sighted in relation to different stages of the mine is here.
When the mine received federal approval on 14 May 2020, koalas and greater gliders were listed as “vulnerable”, and mine owner Pembroke Resources was given permission to clear koala habitat equivalent in size to Sydney Harbour (roughly 4,500 hectares).
However since then, both species have suffered major population declines, in part due to the “Black Summer” bushfires, and have been federally uplisted as ‘endangered’ since February 12 2022.
Lock the Gate Alliance recently sent a letter (available here) to Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, requesting Olive Downs’ environmental conditions be updated to better protect koalas and greater gliders in response to the new footage.
Just days ago, mine owner Pembroke Resources revealed it had obtained an $875 million loan to expand operations at Olive Downs.
Lock the Gate Alliance Central Queensland Coordinator Dr Claire Gronow said, “This new specialised thermal drone footage highlights that there are incredibly important populations of both Koalas and Greater Gliders in the path of the Olive Downs coal mine expansions, including breeding Koalas.
“The plight of koalas and greater gliders has significantly worsened since Olive Downs was first approved, and they’re now listed as ‘endangered’.
“We’re calling on the Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, to update the conditions to better protect these species in response to the results of this survey.
“The Albanese Government shouldn’t stand by while Pembroke Resources bulldozes endangered Koala and Greater Glider habitat.
“Koalas and Greater Gliders are at grave risk from habitat clearing and fossil fuel driven global heating, and the Olive Downs coal mine expansion will dramatically escalate both threats.
“These endangered species are facing the death of a thousand cuts, and after approving seven coal projects last year alone, the Minister needs to urgently change course. She can do that by stepping in on this project to strengthen conditions and increase protections”.
ENDS