The company behind the New Acland coal mine on Queensland's Darling Downs is silencing nearby farmers with confidentiality clauses in signed agreements, an environmentalist says.
 |
| The New Acland mine produces about 4.8 million tonnes of coal annually. |
The Oakey Coal Action Alliance (OCAA) is using the Queensland Land Court to challenge an expansion of the mine to increase annual output, from 4.8 million to 7.5 million tonnes of thermal coal, across three new open-cut pits.
New Hope Coal plans to expand the mine onto 3,668 hectares of agricultural land — before it is expected to run out of coal this year.
OCAA secretary Paul King said New Hope had hired a consultant to negotiate "make good arrangements" to protect landholders surrounding the proposed stage three expansion.
"Those make good agreements they're insisting [on] have confidentiality clauses in them and we don't think that's fair," he said.
Read the ABC Rural story - “Acland coal mine: Farmers silenced by agreements, Oakey Coal Action Alliance says.”
No comments:
Post a Comment