27 November, 2015
Warkworth-Mount Thorley decision shows the Baird government’s biodiversity offsets policy is a farce
The final approval of Rio Tinto’s Mount Thorley Warkworth mine expansion today makes a mockery of the state’s biodiversity offsets system. [1]
“What a disgrace. This decision shows that we need a total overhaul of the way coal and CSG is regulated in NSW,” NSW Nature Conservation Council CEO Kate Smolski said.
“Some of the woodlands that will be destroyed include areas Rio Tinto promised to protect in perpetuity to offset the losses caused by the development of the original mine.
“Releasing the company from its offset obligations under the original approval is a betrayal of the residents of Bulga and the broader community, and makes a mockery of the Baird government’s biodiversity offsets policy.
“It also sets a dangerous precedent for the destruction of other biodiversity offset areas the community believes have been permanently protected.
“This is the clearest evidence yet that Mr Baird’s major projects biodiversity offsets policy needs to be completely rewritten.”
Today’s decision allows Rio Tinto to destroy 611 hectares of native bushland, including three endangered ecological communities:
- Warkworth Sands Woodland (NSW Endangered Ecological Community)
- Central Hunter Grey Box–Ironbark Woodland (NSW Endangered Ecological Community)
- Central Hunter Valley Eucalypt Forest and Woodland (Federal Critically Endangered Ecological Community) [2]
The mine expansion will also have a significant impact on endangered wildlife, including the Glossy Black Cockatoo, Swift Parrot, Regent Honey Eater, Squirrel Glider, and many other species.
“The long-term survival prospect for these species diminishes each time a coal mine is allowed to chip away another chunk of habitat, and the government’s flawed biodiversity offsets policy is now adding to these losses,” Ms Smolski said.
“The biodiversity offsets policy needs to be rewritten to provide what the community expects – protection of essential habitat in perpetuity.
“Rio Tinto’s mine expansion is essentially the same project that the Land and Environment Court and Supreme Court of NSW rejected.
"The Baird government must bear full responsibility for allowing Rio Tinto to destroy the community of Bulga and the endangered woodlands on this site because, as the PAC commissions said, [3] the projects became approvable only after the government changed laws and policies to favor the company.”
REFERENCES
[1] Warkworth http://www.pac.nsw.gov.au/Projects/tabid/77/ctl/viewreview/mid/462/pac/476/view/readonly/myctl/rev/Default.aspx
Mt Thorley
http://www.pac.nsw.gov.au/Projects/tabid/77/ctl/viewreview/mid/462/pac/477/view/readonly/myctl/rev/Default.aspx
[2] Federal Environment Department listed Central Hunter Valley Eucalypt Forest and Woodland as a Critically Endangered Ecological Community in May this year. Rio Tinto did not require federal approval to destroy 400 hectares of this woodland because the federal listing occurred after the development application was lodged. www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicshowcommunity.pl?id=130&status=Critically+Endangered
[3]“The Commission notes that a number of important changes in government policy have been made in the past three years, and these are relevant to the assessment of this application. The Commission is satisfied the project is consistent with current government policy, particularly in relation to biodiversity, noise, air quality and socio-economic impacts.”
Tags
Coal and gas
Let others know about this issue