Check out the proposed new coal mines, and coal mine expansions that have the biggest koala impacts.
Create your own countdown on howlongagogo.com
On August the 8th, EnvA-CQ provided evidence to the department and Minister Plibersek’s office that Vitrinite had commenced coal mining operations at the site of its Vulcan South coal mine before receiving federal approval for the project.
On Friday 4 Oct an ABC investigation revealed Queensland coal company Vitrinite has been found mining coal and bulldozing koala habitat at its proposed Vulcan South coal mine without Federal environmental approval. Minister Plibersek has not yet stopped the illegal clearing and mining to enforce the law. Read more.
Check out the proposed new coal mines, and coal mine expansions that have the biggest koala impacts.
Yancoal’s Moolarben coal mine is an existing thermal coal mine located in mid-Western NSW near the town of Ulan, on Wiradjuri Country. Yancoal is currently seeking state and federal approval for a proposed expansion of the mine, Moolarben OC3, which would extract an additional 40 million tonnes of thermal coal until 2034. The mine expansion is set to clear over 113 ha of endangered koala habitat and extends close to the edge of one of the oldest conservation reserves in NSW, the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. The NSW government Environment and Heritage Group’s submission on the project says the coal mine expansion threatens koala habitat that is ‘critical to the survival of the species’ and “would significantly contribute” to four other animal species and one critically endangered ecological community becoming extinct in NSW7. Yancoal has acknowledged the project would displace a “critical” koala population.8
Species likely to be impacted: Large-eared pied bat, eastern cave bat, broad-headed snake, regent honeyeater, pin-tailed legless lizard, koala, swift parrot, squirrel glider
Follow local legends fighting to stop the mine, Mudgee District Environment Group, and Mudgee Coal Alert to get involved.
Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri Underground Stage 3 Extension project is seeking to extend the life of its existing Narrabri thermal coal mine for another 13 years through to 2044. The mine is located on Gomeroi Country, near Narrabri NSW in the Gunnedah coal field adjacent to the Pilliga state forest. The expansion threatens 500ha of koala habitat. The Narrabri coal expansion will directly emit an average of 1.5m tonnes of CO2-equivalent a year9, making it the dirtiest thermal coal mine in Australia10 (and in the top 4 most polluting coal mines in Australia).
Species likely to be impacted: Corben’s Long-eared Bat, Pilliga mouse, koala
You can support local groups WANDO Conservation & Cultural Centre and Lock the Gate to help stop this koala killing project
Peabody and Yancoal’s Middlemount coal mine, near Middlemount in Central Queensland is on Barada Barna Country. The project would extend the life of the mine until 2044 and extract an additional 112 million tonnes of coal. The project is seeking approval to dig up and divert a section of Roper creek that supports high quality riparian vegetation, including many large old trees growing on the banks of the creek that are used by koala and greater gliders. The extension of the Middlemount mine open cut pit would remove this section of Roper Creek and the woodlands lining its banks. The project seeks to clear over 60 hectares of koala and greater glider habitat. The presence of koalas and greater gliders utilising this important riparian habitat was recorded on surveys conducted by the coal company19. Surveys also noted the woodland along the creek is dominated by Queensland Blue gum, a preferred food source for koalas, and supports hollow bearing trees that provide important denning habitat for greater gliders.20
Species likely to be impacted: Koala, greater glider, squatter pigeon.
BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s Saraji East coal mine, located 80 km south-east of Emerald on Barada Barna Country, will clear 1160 ha of koala habitat15, equivalent to over 500 MCG sized football fields. Project EIS documents state that koalas may be killed or injured during vegetation clearing and may be struck by mining vehicles16. The project also plans to clear 748 hectares of habitat for the greater glider.16 BMA’s surveys recorded 18 greater gliders within and directly adjacent to the project disturbance footprint.18 Greater gliders need large old trees with hollows for denning, the coal mine will clear this irreplaceable habitat. The mine proposes to dig up 11 million tonnes of coal each year until 2045.
Species likely to be impacted: Ornamental snake, Dunmall’s snake, Brigalow scaly-foot, squatter pigeon, Australian painted snipe, little pied bat, koala, short-beaked echidna, greater glider
Glencore are seeking to expand their Hail Creek mine on Widdi Country, clearing nearly 600ha of habitat for koala and other threatened species. Homevale National Park is located immediately east of the Project area. The existing Hail Creek Open Cut coal mine is one of the most polluting methane emitting mines on the planet. It is estimated to emit 20% of Australia’s methane emissions from coal mining11, while accounting for just 1% of Australian coal production.
Species likely to be impacted: Koala, squatter pigeon, southern and central greater glider, glossy-black cockatoo, short-beaked Echidna
You can help stop this destructive mine by support local groups, Mackay Conservation Group, Queensland Conservation Council, Environment Council of Central Queensland, and Environment Advocacy - Central Queensland
Vitrinite’s Vulcan South mine on Barada Barna Country is proposed to clear 770ha of important koala habitat, and several other threatened species. The project would extract 1.9 million tonnes of coal for eight years. Almost all the project area is currently native bushland, in a largely fragmented area. Vitrinite is using environmental offsets to justify the project, which will do nothing to protect the koalas directly impacted by the proposed project. The Vulcan South project is directly adjacent to Vitrinite’s existing Vulcan coal mine which is approved to clear 200 hectares of koala habitat. Vitrinite has a poor environmental compliance record at its Vulcan mine. The company was issued with an Environmental Protection Order by the Queensland government for releasing polluted water into creeks12 and has breached its Commonwealth environmental conditions by clearing land outside of its approved project area13.
Species likely to be impacted: Koala, greater glider, squatter pigeon, northern quoll, ornamental snake, Australian painted snipe, glossy black cockatoo
Support local group Environmental Advocacy Central Queensland to stop this koala killing mine
Whitehaven Coal’s proposed Blackwater South coal mine is on Ghungalu Country near Blackwater in Central QLD. The project has the biggest planned impacts to koala habitat of all proposed coal mines in Australia. If approved, more than 6500 hectares of koala habitat will be cleared14, more than 3,200 MCG sized football fields. Whitehaven plans to mine up to 10 million tonnes of coal a year for 90 years, until the year 2112.
Species likely to be impacted: Greater glider, northern quoll, star finch, koala, ornamental snake, Yakka skink, southern snapping turtle, Fitzroy River turtle
Whitehaven Coal is proposing to develop Australia's largest greenfield coal project, the Winchester South mine, located in the Bowen Basin on First Nations Barada Barna Country. According to Whitehaven's environmental impact statement, the project would contribute 583m tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution – more than Australia’s national annual greenhouse gas emissions – including 14.2m tonnes of on-site emissions and 567m tonnes of scope three emissions created when it is burned overseas. Approximately 58% of the mine’s coal is for steel production, while the other 42% would be exported to Asian countries for use in producing electricity.
Species likely to be impacted: koalas, the Australian painted snipe, the ornamental snake and the squatter pigeon.
Local grassroots group Mackay Conservation Group (MCG), and ACF are challenging the Queensland government's state approval of the mine in the land court.
