Media release from Environmental Advocacy Central QLD (EnvA-CQ). Read the full media release on their website here.

A new expert report reveals Central Queensland’s koalas face losing tens of thousands of hectares of what little habitat they have left if a dozen new coal mines are built. Using state of the art satellite mapping technology combined with government data, the CQUniversity study shows how the mining lease areas for 12 planned coal projects in the Bowen Basin coal mining district overlap with habitat critical for koalas’ survival. 

It’s the first time a report has assessed the cumulative impact of coal mining on endangered koalas in Central Queensland – which make up one fifth of the state’s koalas. The report finds new or expanding coal mine lease areas cover around 123,000 hectares, of which about 42,500 ha is classified as potentially suitable koala habitat.

It also finds that large areas of koala habitat are directly located on mining leases for some of the largest coal mine expansions now proposed in Queensland, including:

• An estimated 2,108 hectares of koala habitat on proposed mining leases for BMA’s Peak Downs Coal Mine Continuation – which will produce 18Mtpa for 93 years.
• An estimated 2,026 hectares of koala habitat on proposed mining leases for BMA’s Saraji Coal mine expansions – which will produce at least 11Mtpa for 20years.
• An estimated 909 hectares of koala habitat on proposed mining leases for Whitehaven’s Winchester South Coal project – which will produce 15Mtpa for 30 years.

While habitat clearing poses the biggest immediate threat to koalas, the report finds climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels like coal threatens koalas’ survival due to their inability to withstand prolonged heat waves and drought. 

Koalas are therefore likely to suffer compounding impacts from habitat clearing as well as from extreme weather events caused by the coal from these projects. For example, climate change directly threatens the koalas’ near-exclusive diet of moisture-laden eucalyptus leaves – as droughts and heatwaves become more common, there will be fewer healthy trees on which koalas can feed. 

The report finds: “Koala habitat will increasingly need to provide a refugia environment considering the most likely climate change scenarios painted for the Bowen Basin region… The koala is extremely sensitive to climate change and will suffer further population decline with the expected heatwave and drought cycle intensification in forthcoming decades.” 

Environmental Advocacy in Central QLD director Dr Coral Rowston said, “The fate of many of these coal projects will ultimately rest with Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and decisions that she makes about their impacts on koalas.

“This is a major test for Minister Plibersek, who has made strong public statements about protecting koalas and avoiding extinctions – she must take the action needed to protect this endangered species.

“If Minister Plibersek approves these new coal projects, thousands of hectares of habitat will be cleared and the extraction and use of the coal mined will fuel climate change, making it even harder for koalas to survive.

“Central Queensland’s koala population would face a very perilous future under the business-as-usual approach of rubber stamping the majority of Bowen Basin coal mines. 

Lock the Gate Alliance National Coordinator Ellen Roberts said, “Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has a choice to make: Does she want more climate change-causing coal, or does she want to protect Central Queensland’s koalas?

“The incredible irony is that federal and state governments are putting the koala forward as a mascot for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics – while at the same time going full scale ahead with projects that threaten its survival.

“Australia will be an international embarrassment if it continues to allow the wide scale destruction of koala habitat even while trying to promote the animal to the world.”

CQ University Senior Lecturer Geography Dr Michael Hewson said, “The report notes the cumulative impact of the multi-decade industrialisation of the Bowen Basin – and suggests the need for careful planning consideration in balancing economic and environmental imperatives. 

“Further, the careful design of habitat conservation, restoration, and environmental legislation is important so that species refugia in a changing climate is of sufficient ecological value.”

The report was commissioned by Lock the Gate Alliance and Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland (EnvA).