Coal news and updates

Farmers battle Gina Rinehart over Alpha coal project

Queensland farmers will take on Australia's richest woman and an Indian mining giant in the state's land court.

The group is challenging on Monday the approval of the Alpha coal project, a multi-billion-dollar joint venture between Gina Rinehart's Hancock Coal and GVK.

The federal government approved the project, which includes a large open cut mine, rail and port infrastructure in central west Queensland's Galilee Basin, last month.

Farmers and community group Coast and Country Association of Queensland want to overturn the approval on the grounds the project will cause irreversible damage to the environment, affect the Great Barrier Reef and contribute to climate change.
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"The agricultural industry in this area absolutely depends on groundwater and the Alpha coal mine will have intensive water demands," farmer Peter Anderson says.

Source: www.brisbanetimes.com.au