Community & Business
10 June, 2024
Lagoon Creek Conservation Zone begins
Work has begun on New Acland Mine’s 13.5-kilometre Lagoon Creek Conservation Zone, which will see more than 3,000 trees planted at the mine site over the next decade as a requirement of mining the West Pit before time.
The project will complement rehabilitation outcomes from previously mined areas and strengthens New Hope Group’s commitment to progressive rehabilitation practices.
Stretching through the mining operation, the Lagoon Creek Conservation Zone will see the vegetation corridor along Lagoon Creek widened to more than 100 metres.
New Acland Mine General Manager, Dave O’Dwyer said the Lagoon Creek Conservation Zone will enhance animal and plant biodiversity.
“The project will stretch from Pechey-Maclagan Road to south of the Manning Vale West Pit and will take more than a decade to complete,” he said.
“In total, more than 135 hectares of land alongside Lagoon Creek will be prioritised and planted with native vegetation, including eucalyptus, paper bark and other refuge trees, designed to significantly boost the local koala population.
“We’re doing a lot of work to make sure this population is sustained and strong.
“New Acland Mine is home to one of Australia’s most ambitious and practical land management programs.
“Established more than 17 years ago, the progressive rehabilitation program returns mined land to agricultural and conservation uses while contributing to the region’s agribusiness industry.
“To date, more than 740 hectares of land has been rehabilitated.
“Of this, 349 hectares has been formally ratified as progressively rehabilitated mined land by the Queensland Government.”
Mick Law – New Acland Mine Acting Environmental Superintendent says that with koala fencing done, the focus will now turn to the southern part of Lagoon Creek Crossing.
Oakey Coal Action Alliance spokesperson Paul King said what New Acland are doing is nothing special.
“This is an ordinary requirement of the environmental authority,” he said.
“Conditions prescribed for New Acland Coal that they not disturb the area which is a High Conservation Zone.
“I will acknowledge that progressive rehabilitation has been a part of New Acland’s modus operandi and this is welcome.”
Local farmers say the rehabilitation efforts, while welcome, won’t return the land to the state it was in prior to mining.
