The Northern Inland Council for the Environment has expressed disappointment with the loss of a legal challenge, following the Federal Court’s decision to approve the Whitehaven Maules Creek Coal mine.
The group had challenged former Environment Minister, Tony Burke’s decision to approve the project.
Whitehaven Coal says the area’s coal seams are Australia’s largest unexploited coal deposits, worth billions, but the group’s spokesperson says the project will endanger flora and fauna.
“In our case, the law has not even been strong enough to protect a nationally endangered forest and important koala habitat from being bulldozed for two enormous open-cut coal mines.
“This disappointing decision today will trigger even greater community opposition to the Maules Creek coal mine, and we expect to see more and more people visiting the forest to take direct action against such an environmentally disastrous mining project,” he said.
