Acland coalmine: Josh Frydenberg gives approval to $900m expansion

Josh Frydenberg announced the $900m
expansion of Queensland’s Acland open-cut
coalmine has received federal
government approval.

A controversial $900m expansion of Queensland’s Acland open-cut coalmine has received federal government approval.

The environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, made the announcement on Friday, but the New Hope project is still waiting on state permits and the outcome of a legal challenge in the land court.

“A total of 28 strict conditions are attached to the approval, which include requirements for water management and monitoring, and environmental offsets,” Frydenberg said.

The expansion is expected to create 260 construction jobs and guarantee the ongoing employment of hundreds of workers and contractors.

Read the story in The Guardian - “Acland coalmine: Josh Frydenberg gives approval to $900m expansion.”

(The Australian Government claims it will “meet and beat” its carbon emissions targets, but through its actions makes a mockery of those claims – Robert McLean)