19 September, 2023
First coal at Mine
New Acland Stage 3 has reached a major milestone with the extraction of first coal at the site last week.
The acceleration of mining activity followed the Oakey Coal Action Alliance’s (OCAA) decision to withdraw its stay application, providing New Hope Group with certainty to progress New Acland Mine’s Stage 3 ramp-up plan.
New Acland Mine General Manager, Dave O’Dwyer said first coal at Stage 3 is a breakthrough moment for the site’s 100-plus workers.
“First coal, which was extracted yesterday at the Manning Vale East Pit was 16 years in the making,” he said.
“It was a surreal moment to achieve first coal and validates the efforts of so many workers and community leaders, who stood beside New Hope Group as we secured the necessary Stage 3 approvals from the Queensland Government.
“Stage 3 first coal will trigger a significant ramp-up on site and a wave of additional milestones, including first washed coal via the onsite Coal Handling and Processing Plant and the first shipment of coal from New Acland Mine to the Port of Brisbane in more than two years.
“There will also be additional job opportunities on site, with at least another 30 full-time, permanent employees needed before Christmas.”
It’s forecast 950,000 of coal will be extracted from New Acland Mine in FY24.
Oakey Coal Action Alliance secretary Paul King said the fight to stop mining would continue in the Land Court.
“We must stop New Hope from damaging the aquifers relied on by so many in
this district to grow food and fibre for Queenslanders.
“Farmers can’t afford to lose the groundwater that sustains agriculture in this region,” he said.
“We recently secured a victory over New Hope, obtaining court orders limiting how the company will conduct mining in order to protect these precious water sources.
“We look forward to having our day in court.
“The original Land Court decision found in our favour on water in the mining objection hearing, and we will be making the strongest case possible that it should do so again.
“We’ve always said the Darling Downs is for farming, not coal mining, and we have no intention of backing down now.”
Mr O’Dwyer told The Champion he expected the Land Court case to be heard in January next year.
Member for Condamine Pat Weir said the extraction of coal marked an historic moment for the district.
“At long last, we’ve seen the (New) Acland mine start to dig coal,” he said.
“Sixteen years is way too long for an approval process and hopefully we don’t see this repeated again in the future.
“This means that local workers can go back to work, that’s the beauty of the Acland mine, always has been.”
“All those workers sleep in their beds of a night in their local communities.
“The town of Oakey has come alive.
“You can hardly get a park in the main street already.
“That will only grow as the mine goes on and develops further.”
Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise CEO Greg Bowden said the project was progressing quickly.
“It was only three months ago that we were standing with the Minister and local representatives out at New Acland,” he said.
“From a jobs and growth point of view, we’re very excited to be standing here today.
“Right now, we’re seeing a transition phase to new and future energies.
“Coal right now is still fuelling this country and our domestic markets.
“It’s very important that coal is part of the transition.”
Mayor Geoff McDonald said $1 billion dollars would be added to the economy.
“Toowoomba Regional Council and New Hope have contractual agreement to use our resources,” he said.
“They also have a wonderful community engagement team.
“They have a grant fund whereby they fund community with dollars and they support many events.”
Mayor McDonald said the vacancy left following the departure of Linda Sexton from the Community Development Officer position would be filled.
“I’m very pleased to say that the Oakey Community Development officer will be appointed soon,” he said.
“That’ll mean we have a close contact into Council’s decision making and across our operational arm.”
