Albanese Government Approves Controversial Coalmine Expansion
The Albanese government has approved the expansion of the Middlemount coalmine in Queensland. This approval will involve clearing habitat used by threatened koalas and greater gliders. Conservation groups have stated that this expansion will contribute further to the climate crisis.
Mine Details and Climate Impact
The Middlemount mine, located in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, is co-owned by US company Peabody and China-owned Yancoal. The expansion is projected to facilitate the export of approximately 85 million tonnes of coal over 24 years.
Conservationists have estimated that the combustion of this coal overseas for steel or electricity production would release around 236 million tonnes of CO2 over the project’s lifetime. This amount is approximately equivalent to half of Australia’s current annual carbon footprint.
Threatened Species Habitat and Controversial Mitigation
The approved clearing affects about 81 hectares of greater glider habitat and 183 hectares of koala habitat. Company documents indicate that a 1,557-hectare site has been identified as an area to be secured to offset the clearing.
The government has imposed conditions designed to mitigate harm to threatened species, including a requirement for Middlemount to identify and relocate any tree hollows used by greater gliders.
Ecologists have expressed significant concerns regarding these mitigation measures. Professor Euan Ritchie, an ecologist at Deakin University, stated that greater gliders would likely die as a result of the clearing.
He described the plan to relocate their homes as "deluded, and contemptuous." He explained that relocating tree hollows could alter their thermal properties and microclimate, potentially rendering them unsuitable for gliders.
Professor David Lindenmayer, a forest ecologist at the Australian National University, supported Ritchie’s concerns, stating the mine approval "condemns these animals to die."
Greater gliders were designated endangered in 2022, six years after their initial appearance on the national threatened species list, with habitat clearing and global heating identified as key threats.
Broader Implications and Environmental Criticism
This marks the second coalmine extension approved by the federal government this year, following the approval of the Meandu mine in Queensland last month.
Dr. Claire Gronow, central Queensland coordinator for the environment group Lock the Gate, commented that "With every new or expanded coalmine they approve, the Albanese government is burning our future and burning their own credibility."
Charlie Cox, a campaigner at the Queensland Conservation Council, stated that "The science is unwavering – digging and burning coal is fundamentally changing our climate, driving more frequent rain events and flooding."
Government Response and Climate Commitments
A federal government spokesperson confirmed that the approval for Middlemount included several strict conditions aimed at minimizing potential impacts. These conditions are intended to ensure the protection of water resources, listed threatened species, and ecological communities.
Measures incorporated include pre-clearance surveys, safe fauna crossing areas, and tree hollow translocation. Offsets for residual significant impacts are also required.
The government spokesperson also stated the government's strong commitment to climate change action and net-zero targets, noting the mine's inclusion under the safeguard mechanism, which mandates annual greenhouse emission reductions and a net-zero target by 2050.
However, the safeguard mechanism primarily affects emissions occurring within Australia, while the majority of emissions from the coal are expected to occur when burned overseas.