SYDNEY, May 17, 2018 – Clive Palmer and Waratah Coal’s failure to undertake any study of the environmental impact of what would be one of the world’s largest coal mines shows that the coal industry takes the federal Environment Department for granted, and offers another compelling reason for why the mine should be scrapped.In an application to be exempted from the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999), Waratah Coal and their Chairman Clive Palmer claimed that the mega coal mine would have no impact on the already-devastated Great Barrier Reef, despite the company not undertaking any of its own environmental impact assessments.
“To submit an application for a coal mine three times larger than Adani’s controversial Carmichael mine without doing any environmental assessment is like expecting to get a physics degree just by turning up on graduation day. This is a message from Clive Palmer to the environment department that the coal industry considers them to be a rubber stamp,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific Campaigner Jonathan Moylan.
“Waratah has also failed to acknowledge any impacts on national parks and underground water systems that are vital for agriculture as well as biodiversity. The company also admits it will impact threatened species including the koala and the critically endangered Curlew Sandpiper. Despite this Waratah is still seeking to be exempted from its environmental responsibilities claiming it can safely work around critically endangered wildlife. What is even more shocking is that the company’s only evidence is assessments undertaken by other mining projects, some of which are now eight years old.”
Mr Palmer’s proposed coal mine would be among the biggest in the world; three times the size of Adani Carmichael mine and more than 27 times the size of Sydney Harbour.
It would also be one of the world’s largest in terms of its emissions; if approved, Alpha North would account for 31 percent of Australia’s domestic greenhouse gas emissions at a time when a coal phase-out is desperately needed.
“The Alpha North project is 100 percent incompatible with a 1.5 degree world. It jars completely with Australia’s commitments under the Paris Agreement,” Moylan said.
“Many nations and states have set a coal phase out date of 2030, which is when Waratah plans to begin mining operations. If the government is serious about providing healthy air and water to its people, protecting the Reef and the homes of our Pacific neighbours then there is no other choice than to scrap this polluting project our planet cannot afford.”
Notes:
For interviews:
Martin Zavan, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Communications Campaigner
0424 295 422 / [email protected]