Coal news and updates

Gunnedah coal protests continue

PROTESTERS concerned for the future of the Leard State Forest say they have mounted a second day of action after Monday's protests against Whitehaven Coal.

Front Line Action on Coal spokesperson Murray Dreschler said a group of people had gathered on a coal haul road out of Idemitsu's Boggabri coalmine on Tuesday morning.
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Mines in the area export their coal through the Port of Newcastle.

Mr Dreschler said coal trucks were stopped where the haul road joined Therribri Road near the Namoi River.

“We are here today to prevent the destruction of the Leard State Forest,” Mr Drechsler said.

“Idemitsu’s Boggabri mine plans to expand fourfold, destroying 2000 hectares of habitat for koalas, regent honeyeaters and the swift parrot.”

“We will not give in until this forest is protected.''
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Mr Drechsler said the Boggabri mine sat entirely within the Leard State Forest, forming a coal complex with Whitehaven's Tarrawonga and Maules Creek mines that would lower the water table by more than five metres and emit 18,000 tonnes of coal dust.

He said federal approval of the mine’s expansion was being challenged in court.

Source: Newscastle Herald