AREEA is extremely pleased the prospect of delivering further economic growth and jobs for South East Queensland is not yet over for Australian coal miner New Hope Group.

Earlier this month, the Queensland Supreme Court lifted the hopes of the many communities and hundreds of jobs linked to New Hope’s proposed $900m New Acland Mine enlargement.

“New Hope Corporation welcomes (the) judgment of the Supreme Court of Queensland on its application for a Judicial Review of the 31 May 2017 Land Court of Queensland recommendation in respect of the New Acland Coal Mine Stage Three Project,” the company said in a statement.

“The Supreme Court found grounds for review have been established in the areas of groundwater, noise and intergenerational equity with the consequence that it would be appropriate to order the Land Court’s decision be set aside, and the matter referred back to the Land Court for further consideration.

“We remain committed to securing approval for this project and in doing so being able to provide ongoing employment for the circa 700 jobs reliant on the project.”

The New Acland open cut coal mine opened in 2002 and each year injects more than $110 million into the Darling Downs economy and over $300 million into the broader south-east Queensland economy.

The stage three expansion is critical to the mine’s continuation and has been strongly backed by the local community through an innovative grassroots campaign. The campaign website “Save Regional Towns” includes personal stories of community members and local businesses which would be impacted by the mine’s potential close, facts about the project’s contribution to the community and an online petition to support the expansion’s approval.

AREEA wishes member company New Hope well for the upcoming review.