On Tuesday morning, stricken Chinese coal bulker, Shen Neng 1, arrived in the pristine wateres of Hervey Bay. The ship anchored in the great sandy marine park, a whale sanctuary on the edge of world heritage listed Fraser Island.
In what appears to be the first ever rejection of a new coal mine by the NSW Government, Premier Kristina Keneally has today rejected the proposed Bickham coal mine in the Upper Hunter Valley.
Yesterday's announcement that Centennial Coal, Australia's largest independent coal company, has failed in its plan to develop one of the richest coal seams in NSW, is a huge victory for people concerned about climate change as well as concerned locals in the Hunter Valley.