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Queensland town divided over New Acland coal mine expansion

Thursday, 3 Nov 2016 08:30:47 | Elly Bradfield

Third-generation Darling Downs farmer Barry Mason wants the New Acland expansion to go ahead. (ABC News: Elly Bradfield)

A farmer whose property borders the New Acland coal mine on Queensland's Darling Downs has warned agriculture will suffer if a mine expansion does not go ahead.

A proposal to expand the existing open-cut mine's annual output from 4.8 million to 7.5 million tonnes has divided the community near Oakey.

A group of farmers and environmentalists is challenging the New Acland stage three proposal in the Queensland Land Court amid concerns about damage to groundwater, air quality and agricultural land.

But third-generation cattle and crop farmer Barry Mason, 71, said the expansion was critical to the local economy, with many local farmers supplementing their income with work at the mine.

"If stage three doesn't go ahead, a lot of those workers are locals, they have little farms and they work in the coal mine to substitute their income ... we'll see them disappear," he said

"I like to sleep at night, and I can't sleep knowing that if the mine doesn't go ahead and I say nothing, the situation is there will be people out of work.

"Even a lot of the farms that were bought out by the mine, they were barely making ends meet, so it's either bigger or get out."

Mr Mason said up to 70 farmers were employed by the mine including contractors.

Community awaiting Land Court's decision

The Oakey Coal Action Alliance comprising about 60 farmers and residents is objecting to the environmental authority and two mining lease applications associated with the expansion.

The Queensland Land Court reserved its recommendation to the State Government following a marathon 84-day hearing which finished in October.

Mr Mason said the court case and interference from outsiders had divided the small community, but his neighbours wanted the mine expansion to proceed.

"The opponents that want the mine shut down want no mining whatsoever," he said.

"The community is part of the mine, we've accepted the mine and we all live happily."

Mr Mason described radio broadcaster Alan Jones' vocal opposition to the mine expansion as disappointing.

"Alan and his family lived three kilometres out of town ... his father had a small farm and also worked in the mine," he said.

"It was through holding down a mine job and farming that Alan was sent to Toowoomba Grammar School and I guess the rest is history.

"I'm a bit disappointed by his approach because he knows quite well that mining was part of his livelihood."

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