Australian government approves coal projects in New South Wales

Tony Burke, the Australian environment minister, has conditionally approved Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek project in New South Wales, despite telling the company earlier this month that the timeframe for consideration of the project had been extended by three months to 30 April.

According to Reuters, the minister was forced to bring the decision forward after the New South Wales state government released sensitive information about the Maules Creek project.

The minister has also conditionally approved Idemitsu Kosan’s Boggabri mine and AGL Energy’s Gloucester coalbed methane projects.

Conditional approval

Speaking to Bloomberg, Burke said: “In each of these three additional approvals there is more work to be concluded before the project can actually proceed.” These include limits for clearance of native vegetation and provisions for offset areas of more than 15,000 ha. (37,065 acres) to compensate for works related to the coal developments, according to the statement.

Written by Jonathan Rowland.

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