NSW 'couldn't reject' big coal mine
Posted 6 hours 55 minutes ago
Map: Mudgee 2850
The New South Wales Government says it would have been unfair to reject an application for a large coal mine in the state's central-west because of concerns about climate change.
The Government has approved the Moorlarben coal mine, which is expected to provide 10 million tonnes of coal a year for up to 21 years.
The Greens say the mine, near Mudgee, will increase Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 5.3 per cent a year and use 6.9 megalitres of water each day.
But the Planning Minister, Frank Sartor, says significant changes were made to the plans to address environmental concerns.
"It's just not tenable to refuse a coal mine because people might burn coal in China or somewhere else, unless we refused all coal mining," he said.
"We've got to apply the rules equally to everyone, which is why we need a trading scheme nationally so that the rules and penalties are there for all people who produce carbon-based energy."
He says the economic benefits from the mine will mean any environmental impact can be properly managed.
The mine will be close to the Goulburn River but Mr Sartor says changes have been made to alleviate concerns about water contamination.
"The advice I'm getting from experts is that the impact on water courses will not be substantial and that it can be managed in return for the huge economic benefit, which, of course, you can't ignore..." he said.
But Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has questioned the timing of the announcement.
"The Government knows the Moorlarben coal mine is an unpopular project," she said.
"The fact that they released it on the APEC long weekend shows that they are trying to avoid scrutiny."
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