A massive Queensland coal mine expansion backed by global mining giant BHP has been given environmental approval by the state LNP government, despite the project’s huge projected climate impact and its plans to clear more than 136 hectares of koala habitat.
BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) – a 50/50 joint venture between BHP and Mitsubishi Development – is seeking both state and federal environmental approval for the Saraji East coal mine expansion, a greenfield underground metallurgical coal mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.
State approval was awarded by the Crisafulli government at 4pm on Friday last week, according to an email sent to green group Lock the Gate Alliance and shared with Renew Economy on Monday.
The coal mine, proposed for a 11,427 hectare site around 170 km south-west of Mackay, would produce an estimated 110 million tonnes (Mt) of coal, would use around 1,500 mega litres (ML) of water a year and is projected to more than 330 Mt of climate pollution in its 20-year lifetime.
The EIS identifies 11 threatened species within the project site, including the koala, the greater glider, the short-beaked echidna and the squatter pigeon. For koalas, the project site takes in 362.03 hectares (ha) of preferred koala habitat, 1,748.51ha of suitable habitat and 386.67 ha of marginal habitat.
