Whitehaven is betting the bank on its proposed open-cut coal mine at Maules Creek in the State’s north-west. The mine will cause the destruction of 1600 hectares of unique bushland and farmland, 700 hectares of which is classified as critically endangered.[1] It will pump thousands of tons of coal dust onto neighboring communities,[2] drain the water table[3] and release approximately 30 million tonnes of CO2emissions per year - almost the annual emissions of New Zealand’s entire energy sector.[4] [5]
If the cumulative annual emissions from Maules Creek and its neighboring Tarrawonga and Boggabri mines were considered a nation, only fifty nations in the world would rank higher.[6]
Whitehaven’s approval is currently before the Federal Court as the Northern Inland Council for the Environment (NICE) has challenged the approval process signed off by former Environment Minister, Tony Burke.
As the AGM gets under way, the NSW Land and Environment Court will be hearing the case against Aston Coal 2, for not disclosing donations from former directors, Todd Hannigan and Thomas Todd, in its $776million mine project application– Aston Coal 2 is the name on the Maules Creek application.[7]
“Shareholders deserve to know the heavy risks that a share in Whitehaven carries,” said Charlie Wood from 350.org. “Aside from the community and climate impacts, Maules Creek is a tenuous project, rife with uncertainties that could ratchet up millions in unforeseen costs for the company.”
“All the numbers are heading in the wrong direction for this company,” said Nic Clyde, senior Climate & Energy campaigner, Greenpeace Australia Pacific. “The price of coal is headed south, the company’s share price has tanked, and the only numbers headed north are the company’s carbon emissions.”
"The local community has been fighting these mine proposals for four long years,” said Phil Laird, fifth generation farmer from Maules Creek. “We have seen mine management, billionaire shareholders and even State governments come and go. Despite this the community is still here."
"For this reason Maules Creek is an emerging battleground of sustained public action to protect Australia’s environment, communities and climate against the destructive effects of fossil fuel expansion,” concluded Laird.
Where: ASX Auditorium, 20 Bridge Street, Sydney
When: 09:30 - 10:30, Monday 4th November 2013
Media Enquiries
Julie Macken, Greenpeace, 0400 925217
Charlie Wood, 350.org, 0427 485 233
Alex McInnis, Quit Coal, 0422 158 656
Photos available after midday at:
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password: green
[1] Cumberland Ecology (2011), Maules Creek Coal Project Ecological Impact Assessment, Appendix 1, S.5.
[2] Maules Creek Community Council Media Brief: <http://maulescreek.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Media-Briefing-9.5.2012.pdf>
[3] Cumberland Ecology (2011), Maules Creek Coal Project Ecological Impact Assessment, Appendix M.
[4] Lowe, lan (2012), “Maules Creek Proposed Coal Mine - Greenhouse Gas Emissions”
[5] In 2011, New Zealand's total greenhouse gas emissions were 72.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Agriculture was the largest contributing sector to New Zealand's emissions in 2011. It contributed 34.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-e), and comprised 47.2 per cent of total emissions (figure 1). Energy was the second largest sector, contributing 31.0 Mt CO2-e, 42.6 per cent of total emissions. http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate/greenhouse-gas-inventory-2013-snapshot/index.html
[6] Ibid.
[7] Harris, Michelle (2013), “Political cash in for court scrutiny”, The Newcastle Herald, April 22.