The EIS for China First will be made public today. We sent out the following media release this morning: Concerns raised over Palmer’s influence in mine impact assessment Concerns have been raised by local landholders about the integrity of the Commonwealth environmental impact assessment process for Clive Palmer’s China First (aka Galilee Coal) project, as it goes on public display today. Landholders claim that Palmer may wield undue influence on the Government as he will control at least two seats in the Senate and looks to win his own seat in the House of Representatives. Paola Cassoni is part owner of Bimblebox Nature Refuge, a private conservation area that is in the footprint of Palmer’s mining plans. “This situation is ludicrous. How on earth can we believe that the negative impacts from this mine are being properly considered when the Abbott government has a motive to win favour of Clive Palmer?” asked Cassoni. “If the federal government approves this mine, the Australian public will have good reason to suspect that it is a politically motivated decision. The only sensible thing to do will be to put a halt on this assessment right now, until proper transparency measures can be put in place.” It has already been revealed that Clive Palmer employs lobbyists to push for approval on this mine. Cassoni also asserts he has lied about the conservation values of Bimblebox on numerous occasions. “If this mine is approved, it won’t only be disastrous for Bimblebox and all of us who have put so much time and energy into the place, it will also be a dark day for Australian democracy”. Even if PUP representatives abstain from voting on issues where there is a clear conflict of interest, Cassoni believes this will not be enough. “The Federal environment minister makes decisions on projects that affect matters of national environmental significance, such as China First. We have no idea what deals the Government may be stitching up with Palmer to ensure their legislation is passed in the Senate, or what they worry may not pass, if they don’t curry favour with our new billionaire powerbroker.” The Commonwealth EIS is due to go on public display from today at waratahcoal/publications.htm. The Federal environment minister has 40 days to make an assessment of the project and public input is welcome during that time. - Ends – Background: Palmer’s coal project would be one of the largest in Australia, producing 40 million tonnes of coal every year for export. The project has attracted controversy since it was first proposed in connection to the destructive impact it would have on the 8000 ha Bimblebox Nature Refuge. More than half of the refuge would be subject to open cut mining, the remainder degraded by the effects of underground mining. China First had the federal EPBC ‘water trigger’ applied by the Environment minister last week. The Environment minister has a 40 day period to assess the project from when it was submitted to the department and public input into that process is welcome during that period.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 00:22:07 +0000