Glen Beutel, the 'last man' in the ghost town of Acland, yesterday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen Source: The Australian
QUEENSLAND'S new Liberal National Party government vetoed two massive coal projects after Premier Campbell Newman yesterday declared some of the nation's most fertile farmland off-limits to mining.
The decision delighted Glen Beutel, the "last man standing" in the ghost town of Acland, where Mr Newman has vowed to block New Hope Corporation's plan to double coal production to 10 million tonnes.
"I'm just a cork in the ocean," Mr Beutel said yesterday.
"I've been resisting their efforts to purchase me, and have been trying to point out a lot of the aspects of the mine that aren't very good, so it will be a relief to have this over."
The ousted Bligh government had granted "significant project" status to fast-track the stage three expansion of the open-cut mine.
But the new Premier yesterday said it was "inappropriate" to expand the mine in the state's southern food bowl, 150km west of Brisbane. Mr Newman also said he would oppose the creation of Australia's first coal-to-liquids project on fertile farmland at Felton, on the Darling Downs. French company Ambre Energy claims the $3 billion project could supply one-fifth of Queensland's unleaded petrol and LPG needs.
The Australian
No comments:
Post a Comment