THE State Government’s rejection of a planned coal mine north-east of Margaret River has sparked thought among miners and glee in the conservation movement.
Yancoal Premier Coal community relations officer Geoff Blackford said knocking Vasse Coal Management’s plans on the head would lessen any possible competition for the two existing mines at Collie.
“But we are only service the domestic market,” he pointed out.
However, this second coal mine rejection “could make you wonder how you would go looking for coal elsewhere,” he remarked.
Griffin Coal general manager Russel Conley said Margaret River was a very different environment to Collie.
So consideration of Vasse Coal Management’s proposal would have been very different to consideration of expansion of the Muja South coal mine.
“Margaret River is a grape growing area and a small township but with a dense population,” he said.
“Collie is a larger township, surrounded by state forest, and is used to being industrial.”
The final decision on the Margaret River proposal followed consultation between Environment Minister Bill Marmion and other ministers interested in the proposal.
“This decision provides the people of Margaret River with certainty that the State Government recognises the uniqueness of the region, both from an environmental and social perspective,” Mr Marmion said.
In May last year, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) reported the proposed Margaret River mine was unacceptable due to serious risks to important environmental values, especially surface and groundwater and the consequent impacts on the social surroundings.
In December, Mr Marmion dismissed an appeal by the proponent and others in objection to the EPA’s recommendation that the coal mine be rejected.
Conservation Council of WA director Piers Verstegen “two incredibly destructive coal mining proposals” had been rejected by Mr Marmion.
The Margaret River decision followed rejection of another proposed coal mine south of Eneabba, in central west WA. “These decisions will be strongly supported by the thousands of ordinary West Australians who do not want to see coal mining damaging our groundwater and contributing to global carbon pollution and climate change,” Mr Verstegen said.
“The minister’s welcome decisions will build confidence in the WA community that the Barnett Government is capable of listening to Western Australians and striking an appropriate balance between mining and protection of the environment.
“People in Margaret River have worked hard to protect their region from the impacts of coal mining and gas fracking.
“We call on the state government to bring forward a proposal to provide permanent legislative protection against coal mining and gas fracking for whole the Capes region.”
He added: “With new coal mines proposed in the Kimberley and near Esperance, the minister’s decisions should sound a warning to other coal and gas fracking proponents, and their investors, that they should not assume their projects will be approved in WA.
“Wherever polluting industries like coal mining or gas fracking are proposed in WA, they will face increasingly tough opposition from environment groups, local communities and ordinary Western Australians.”
Greens MLC Giz Watson said: “Minister Marmion is to be congratulated for rejecting coal mining in Margaret River. But the Premier must now come good on his promise of special legislation to protect the region.
“Further the government must also support the Greens’ Bill to amend the Mining Act that currently over-rides all planning legislation,” she said.
“Only legislative change will protect the aquifers, the environment and the community from the relentless push from coal miners,” she concluded.
The Chamber of Mines and Energy had no comment when contacted on Tuesday afternoon.
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