Herald 20220906

Acland - Mined land good for farming
AS GOOD AS MOST PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND
Can mining coal in the Acland
area, leave the land in better
condition that it was when New
Hope Group started mining in
2002?
The answer is probably, yes.
The New Acland mine project
has already completed stages
1 and 2 covering thousands of
acres.
This land has generally been
through a rehabilitation process,
earning for owners Acland
Pastoral Company, awards for
their work.
Should New Acland mine
receive a water licence to go
with its recently granted mining
licence for the mine’s Stage 3,
this land reclamation process
will continue.
And there is no doubt that the
soil that has been mined and, can
become as good as most other
prime agricultural land.
During the restoration of
Stage 1 and Stage 2, work done
by two pasture consultants and
the agricultural science section
of USQ showed that returning
the mined land to profitability
was quickly achievable. Soil
profile pits showed pasture root
penetration to at least a metre
quickly occurred, the soil was
fertile, and produced beef cattle
at a rate equivalent to or better
than local standards.
Early criticism that mined
land would never be the same,
was wrong. Rather, it’s probably
better. The life and fertility of
a soil depends on many things
including not just its structure,
but its organic matter, nutrient
profile and very importantly,
microbial life. And all soils can
be improved.
Some of the best Darling
Downs soils could be described
as dead because of the use of
chemicals and lack of microbial
life which contribute to the
fertility and structure of a soil in
multiple ways. A feature of the
regenerated land is that small
native trees have grown-up of
their own accord. - Miles Noller
The 2022 Lions Club of Highfields North Eastern Downs Charity
Show and Shine will be held once again on Sunday, September 18.
This annual event started in 2015 as an activity in the Highfields
area coinciding with the Carnival of Flowers. It is held at the Cabarlah
Showgrounds on the Sunday of the Carnival Parade weekend.
The Show and Shine is open to all vehicles.
There are more than 60 trophies available to be awarded this year
covering cars, rods, motorcycles and trucks.
There is even a trophy this year for the best EV or hybrid. It’s
never been awarded before, so if you own an EV or hybrid you could
be the inaugural winner.
The popular $500 prize award and Perpetual Trophy will once
again be made to the best represented club.
Lions Club vice-president Geoff Jarvis said “This popular event
attracted about 180 competing vehicles in 2019.
“It was held in 2021 and about 120 vehicles attended. We expect
to grow back towards pre-Covid levels this year.”
Entertainment on the day will be provided by International DJ
Krazy Kevin. He was twice voted UK Personality DJ of the Year
before moving to Bahrain drive time radio and most recently to
Toowoomba.
The gates open at 8am for competitors. Entry cost is $15 for a car,
which includes the driver and one passenger.
Gates open at 10:00 am for the public. Entry is just $5 per adult
Among pasture on rehabilitated land at Acland are Andy
Scouller, wash plant and mobile maintenance manager, local
farmer Peter Kuhl, and New Acland mine manager Dave
O’Dwyer
Highfields Lions show and shine
Competitors at the 2019 Highfields Lions Show and Shine
and children under 12 are free. The awards presentation will start at
about 2:00 pm. Entry is via the Shostaki Road entrance (the Cabarlah
markets car park).
Oakey Chamber
welcomes Acland
approval
MINE LIFE UNTIL 2029 and
260 ADDITIONAL JOBS
The Oakey Chamber of
Commerce has welcomed the
approval of the mining lease
for Stage Three of the New
Acland coal mine.
For more than a decade,
New Hope had sought the
mining lease for Stage 3 at the
Acland mine which saw hundreds
of jobs lost when mining
at the site stopped on November
26, 2021.
Queensland Minister for
Resources Scott Stewart announced
the approval of the
third stage on Friday, August
26
Ȯakey Chamber of Commerce
vice president David
Cooper said the approval was
a positive outcome for the
Oakey business community.
“The approval has been
something the Oakey Chamber
of Commerce has been chasing
for many years,” he said.
“There have been a number
of businesses in Oakey that
have struggled with the stagnation
of the Stage 3 approval.
“We have seen cafes and
pubs close down with the stalling
on the approval. Now that
it has been approved, we hope
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David Cooper
Positive outcome
to see those businesses open
again.”
The approval of Stage 3 is
expected to extend the life of
the mine until 2029 and provide
260 additional jobs.
“It’s good to see common
sense come in and the State
Government making the right
decision," Mr Cooper said.
- Sean White
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HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 - 7