EPBC Amendment Bill based on ‘false premise’ – QRC

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has again defended the resources sector against allegations of its supposed impact on the Great Barrier Reef, saying that a rigorous environmental assessment regime and management arrangements were in place...

Rio gets nod for Cape York bauxite project

Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke on Wednesday approved Rio Tinto’s South of Embley bauxite mine, in Queensland, but imposed 76 conditions on the $1-billion, western Cape York Peninsula-based project, to protect the Great Barrier Reef....

ACA condemns Greenpeace coal protest

The Australian Coal Association (ACA) on Wednesday warned that environmental activist group Greenpeace could negatively affect the Australian economy, after six members of Greenpeace boarded a moving coal ship bound for South Korea in the inner...

Rio publishes amended EIS for Cape York bauxite mine

Mining giant Rio Tinto has released a draft environmental-impact statement (EIS) for its South of Embley project, in Cape York, Queensland. The amended draft EIS comes after federal Environment Minister Tony Burke tightened the environmental...

Study contradicts Great Barrier Reef shipping claims

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) on Wednesday welcomed a report by the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBPC) that contradicted claims by environmental activists regarding the Great Barrier Reef area. Environmental activists,...

Hancock, GVK get nod for Abbot Point coal terminal

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke on Wednesday approved the second stage of the multibillion-dollar Alpha coal project, in Queensland, by approving the development of a new coal terminal at the Port of Abbot Point. Burke attached 60...

A$6.4bn Alpha coal project gains federal approval

The federal government has approved the development of the A$6.4-billion Alpha coal project, in Queensland, with Environment Minister Tony Burke imposing strict conditions on the mine and rail project. A joint venture between Hancock Prospecting...

Qld outlines plan to streamline regulations for junior miners

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (Amec) on Tuesday welcomed an announcement from the Queensland government that the state would review legislation and regulation for junior miners. Minister for Natural Resources and Mines...

Burke outlines issues with Alpha coal project

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has outlined his key concerns around the A$6.4-billion Alpha coal mine in Queensland, which Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Coal wants to develop. Burke said that his department had met with Hancock twice, and at...

Orica denies Yarwun environmental misconduct allegations

Mining services provider Orica has hit back at allegations of environmental misconduct at its sodium cyanide facility in Yarwun, Queensland. Queensland Environment and Heritage Protection Minister Andrew Powell last week confirmed that Orica had...

4 500 coal ships, not 10 000, to move through reef by 2020 – QRC

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) on Tuesday refuted claims that up to 10 000 coal ships would move through the Great Barrier Reef by 2020. Quoting independent reef shipping forecasts, which had been released as part of an ongoing study to...

Australia to probe impact of Rio expansion on Great Barrier Reef

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke on Friday tightened the environmental supervision of diversified miner Rio Tinto’s proposed A$1.4-billion Weipa bauxite mine expansion, in Cape York. Burke said that after considering “significant”...