24 January, 2013
Whitehaven Coal’s deceptive practices revealed
Farmers and conservationists are calling on the Federal Government to reject Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek mine proposal and investigate whether the company has provided false or misleading information to obtain an approval under federal environment law.
Farmers whose properties may be impacted by the proposed open-cut coal mine in Leard Forest near Boggabri came to Sydney today to release an ecologist’s report that highlights serious discrepancies in the Whitehaven Coal’s biodiversity offsets program, which is a critical element of the company’s application.
Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Officer Pepe Clarke said Whitehaven Coal planned to clear more than 500 hectares of critically endangered White Box-Gum woodland, which requires offsets of the same ecosystem type to be protected elsewhere.
“However, the areas that the company has mapped as endangered White Box-Gum woodland in their proposed offsets are in fact a totally different vegetation type,” Mr Clarke said.
“The vegetation in the offsets is not endangered, contains little or no White Box and does not provide habitat for the threatened species the offset was supposed to protect: the Swift Parrot, Regent Honeyeater or Corben's Long-eared Bat.
“The NSW Government has approved the mine on the basis of the highly questionable offsets and a final decision on whether the mine will be approved by the Federal Government is now imminent.
“The Federal Government must reject the proposal and investigate whether the company has provided false or misleading information to obtain an approval under federal environment law.”
The farmers’ visit to Sydney coincides with Jonathan Moylan’s appearance before the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in relation to his releasing a hoax media release under the ANZ Bank logo two weeks ago.
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