Bylong community 'wins again' as coal mine appeal is dismissed 

THE NSW Court of Appeal today upheld the decision to refuse the Bylong Coal Project.

The decision comes two years after the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) first rejected the 6.5 million-tonnes-per-year greenfield coal mine, calling the greenhouse gas emissions from the project ‘problematical’.  The Bylong Valley, near Mudgee in central western NSW, is known for its scenic beauty and fertile agricultural land.

Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) client, the Bylong Valley Protection Alliance (BVPA) has fought long and hard against the coal project proposal by Korean company KEPCO, opposing the plans before the IPC, the NSW Land and Environment Court and at last month’s hearing in the Court of Appeal.

KEPCO has been ordered to pay BVPA’s costs. 

EDO managing lawyer Rana Koroglu said, "This is the third time this destructive and climate-wrecking coal mine proposal has been defeated – first in the Independent Planning Commission, then in the Land and Environment Court, and now in the NSW Court of Appeal.  It’s time for the proponent KEPCO to walk away.

“The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report delivered a ‘code red’ for humanity on climate. It’s clear we cannot afford to develop more greenfield coal mines at a time when the world needs to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The South Korean Government, a majority stake owner in KEPCO, has recently committed to increasing its emissions targets to a 40 percent reduction by 2030. 

“Our evidence before the IPC hearing was compelling and robust. We presented testimony from over a dozen expert witnesses and put the latest scientific evidence before the Commission.

"The IPC made its decision based on that evidence, finding that this coal mine is not in the public interest. Two subsequent appeals have thoroughly tested and supported the IPC’s decision to refuse the mine.

“We are delighted for our clients, the Bylong Valley Protection Alliance, who have once again successfully argued for the rejection of this mine and defended their beautiful valley."

Background

In September 2019, the NSW Independent Planning Commission found the Bylong Coal Project was contrary to the principles of ecologically sustainable development, cited impacts on groundwater, climate, agricultural land and aesthetic, scenic, heritage and natural values in its Statement of Reasons for the refusal.   

Acting for the Bylong Valley Protection Alliance, EDO lawyers had presented the Commission with expert evidence, including on the mine’s climate change impacts. In its Statement of Reasons, the Commission said the greenhouse gas aspects of the project were ‘problematical’. 

KEPCO applied for judicial review of the decision in December 2019.  While the IPC declined to defend its decision on the basis it may compromise its impartiality, in May 2020 the Bylong Valley Protection Alliance successfully applied to become a full party to the judicial review, represented by EDO.

The judicial review was heard in the NSW Land and Environment Court in August 2020 and in December 2020, KEPCO’s appeal was rejected.

A further appeal against the NSW Land and Environment Court decision was lodged by KEPCO in March 2021 and was heard by the NSW Court of Appeal on 25 August 2021. 

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