Herald 20221025

Acland go ahead after 15-year fight
NEW ACLAND STAGE 3 THE MOST REVIEWED AND SCRUTINISED RESOURCES PROJECT
IN QUEENSLAND’S HISTORY - NEW HOPE GROUP CEO, ROB BISHOP
New Hope Group’s 15-year
mining approvals battle is over.
The Queensland Government
late last week approved New
Acland Stage 3.
The chief executive of the
Department administered by
Queensland Minister for Water,
Glenn Butcher, granted New
Acland Stage 3 an Associated
Water Licence.
This was the last approval
required after the Government
granted a mining approval some
weeks ago.
New Hope Group CEO, Rob
Bishop said the historic announcement
followed extensive
consultation with Darling
Downs stakeholders, including
the mine’s objectors.
“The Queensland Government’s
decision to approve New
Acland Stage 3 is a defining moment
and is being celebrated by
our workforce, their families,
local farmers, landholders, business
leaders and the local community,”
Mr Bishop said.
“New Acland Stage 3 is
the most reviewed and scrutinised
resources project in
Queensland’s history.
“The Queensland Government
critically assessed the
project and found it stacks up
environmentally, socially and
financially.
“The exhaustive process
was overseen by a host of
Queensland Government Ministers
and countless, hardworking
public servants who evaluated
every aspect of the project and
concluded that New Acland
Stage 3 should go ahead.
Toowoomba Regional Council’s Stakeholder
Engagement Principal Trevor Mitchell has
been awarded Team Member of the Year by the
Queensland Branch of the Institute of Public
Works Engineering Australasia at the 2022
Excellence Awards.
Infrastructure Committee Chair Cr Carol Taylor
said it was fantastic to see staff recognised in this
way.
“Trevor is a dedicated stake-holder engagement
practitioner who has been involved in major
projects such as Flood Recovery and Restoration
Programs, Russell Street Refresh Project, Ruthven
Street North Project, Toowoomba Second Range
Crossing including integrated projects at Mort,
Griffith and Boundary Streets, as well as countless
local projects for our community,” she said.
“His ability to navigate con-flicting stakeholder
interests in supporting the delivery of community
infrastructure is pivotal in the successful delivery
of public works, as well as ensuring our residents
“The Land Court process, the
Coordinator General’s extensive
consultation process, the separate
independent assessments of
the Queensland Department of
Environment and Science and
the Minister for Resources and
now the thorough examination
by the Department of Regional
Development, Manufacturing
and Water has allowed everyone,
including the mine’s objectors,
to be heard.
“The Queensland Government’s
decision to approve New
Acland Stage 3 means we can
now restart operations and extend
employment opportunities
to hundreds of local workers.
Mr Bishop said groundwater,
the subject of the Associated
Water Licence application, was
subject to exhaustive reviews,
comment and assessment by independent
experts, peer reviewers,
objectors, State regulators
and Commonwealth agencies,
in advance of, or during, the Associated
Water Licence Application
process.
“Groundwater is regulated by
existing Water Act management
area conditions and conditions
established by the Department
of Regional Development, Manufacturing
and Water, Coordinator
General, the Department of
Environment and Science and
the Federal Minister for the Environment,”
Mr Bishop said.
“These conditions enable
mining to successfully co-exist
with agriculture and support a
broader range of commercial
and employment opportunities
for the community.
“It’s also essential to understand
the New Acland Mine does
not rely on groundwater bores
for any of its mining operations.
“New Acland Mine purchases
all its water requirements from
the Wetalla Wastewater Reclamation
Facility under an existing
long term supply contract
with the Toowoomba Regional
Council.”
The Queensland Government’s
decision to approve New
Acland Stage 3 means, local
workers, contractors and local
businesses will benefit to the
tune of $1billion over the life of
the project.
At the peak of construction,
there will be approximately 600
local workers on site at New
Acland Mine. Throughout the
life of the project, the permanent
workforce will be approximately
400 full-time roles, made up of
Darling Downs locals.
ANDREW LANGTON
Oakey Chamber of
Commerce president
are listened to throughout the project.
“The annual IPWEAQ Awards program
recognises the work that engineering professionals
provide for the good of their communities.
"It recognises private and public organisations
and in-dividuals who demonstrate best practice,
innovation and positive community impact in
public works projects across Queensland.
“I would also like to con-gratulate our Council
teams who worked on the Glenvale State School
Carpark Project and Smart Parking Project as they
were finalists in the $1-2 million and $2-5 million
project categories respectively.
“At Council, we have an incredible team that
helps to deliver infrastructure to every part of our
Region.
"It’s rewarding to see them being recognised for
their cont-ribution.
“Without the dedication and hard work of our
staff, we simply wouldn’t be able to service our
Region to such a high standard, Cr Taylor said.
DAVE COOPER
from contractors
Coops Queensland
Council stakeholder engagement
practitioner recognised
TREVOR MITCHELL
Team member of the year
INFINITE AGED CARE MOUNT LOFTY
At the New Acland coal mine on Friday are TSBE CEO Ali
Davenport, New Acland Mine General Manager Dave O’Dwyer,
Member for Condamine Pat Weir and local farmer Peter
Kuhl
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HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - OCTOBER 25, 2022 - 3