QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane applauds Kevin’s Corner decision

QUEENSLAND Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane has released the following comment on the Kevin's Corner coal mine in the Galilee Basin:

"TODAY the Land Court of Queensland recommended Minister Lynham grant the Mining Lease and the Environmental Authority be issued for the Kevin’s Corner coal mine in the Galilee Basin, subject to the original draft conditions.

"The GVK backed mine would inject billions of dollars into regional Queensland with 1,800 construction jobs, 1,600 operational and thousands more through indirect employment for the life of the mine.

"The findings clearly recognise that both the Queensland and Commonwealth impact assessment frameworks are rigorous and appropriate.

"It is very disappointing to see green activists, yet again, attempting to derail a job creating mine after it had already passed through processes administered by democratically elected state and federal governments.

"Coast and Country, through the taxpayer-funded Environmental Defenders Office, have repeatedly failed in their combined attempts to stop the coal industry and deny Queenslanders jobs.

"In its decision, the Land Court had demonstrated the court system is starting to identify where activists’ claims have little or no basis other than to delay or attempt to jeopardise the project.

"Once operational the mine would produce up to 30 million tonnes of coal which provides the government with an extra $168 million of royalties to the Budget annually or 2,600 extra nurses or 3,000 police officers or 3,100 teachers.

"The Queensland coal industry delivered $32.7 billion dollars to the state’s economy last financial year while employing directly and indirectly 183,000 people."