30 June, 2015
400ha of newly-listed endangered woodland would be destroyed by Mt Thorley-Warkworth expansion
Assessment of the Mt Thorley-Warkworth coal mine expansion should stop until the Federal Government assesses the project’s impact on woodlands that were only listed as critically endangered last month, according to the NSW Nature Conservation Council CEO Kate Smolski.
“This highly controversial mine project will destroy almost 400 hectares of Central Hunter Valley Eucalypt Forest and Woodland, which the Federal Environment Department listed as a Critically Endangered Ecological Community on May 7, just seven weeks ago,” Ms Smolski said. [1]
“Under commonwealth environmental law, any project that is likely to have an impact on a federally listed species or ecological community requires the commonwealth’s approval, but there has been no federal scrutiny because listing has only just occurred.
“Given how vulnerable this woodland is to extinction, the state government must halt assessment of Mt Thorley-Warkworth expansion proposal until the Federal Environment Department has examined the impacts on this endangered ecological community and is satisfied it is safe for the mine expansion to proceed.
“To continue with the planning assessment without that critical piece of information would be irresponsible.”
The NSW Planning Assessment Commission is conducting public hearings into the controversial project at Singleton Diggers Club from 1pm today, Tuesday, June 30. [2]
Until now, concerns about the ecological impacts of the Mt Thorley-Warkworth expansion have focused on the 72 hectares of Warkworth Sands Woodlands, which is an ecological community listed as endangered under NSW environmental law.
“The federal listing of Central Hunter Valley Eucalypt Forest and Woodland is a real game changer because it covers most of the project site and would be obliterated if the expansion went ahead,” Ms Smolski said.
“Species and ecological communities are listed as ‘critically endangered’ because they face a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Our governments have a duty to ensure these unique ecosystems are not endangered further by inappropriate development, especially not by a dirty polluting coal mine like this one.
“The combined ecological and social impacts of this mine are plainly unacceptable – as has been established several times by the courts. It should be scrapped once and for all so the people of Bulga and these unique ecosystems can be left in peace.”
REFERENCES
[1] Federal listing of the Central Hunter Valley Eucalypt Forest and Woodland www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicshowcommunity.pl?id=130&status=Critically+Endangered
[2] Planning Assessment Commission page www.pac.nsw.gov.au/Projects/tabid/77/ctl/viewreview/mid/462/pac/476/view/readonly/myctl/rev/Default.aspx
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Coal and gas
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