The Australian Coal Alliance’s (ACA) Land and Environment Court (LEC) action against the Wallarah II coal mine, will be heard on November 12.
Mr Alan Hayes, ACA’s Campaign Director, said the LEC had allocated four days to hear the case, which is being backed by the Environmental Defender’s Office. The dates were set at a directions hearing held on Friday, June 8. “We are going to organise for as many of ACA’s members and supporters as possible to be there on the first day, in their red T-shirts, outside the LEC, and then invite the media to attend,” Mr Hayes said. “The hearing will not be finished until at least November 15, and we won’t get a decision for at least three months,” he said.
“It is very pleasing that we have finally got a date to deal with these matters in court. “It has been a long time coming, and this is the best way to prove and establish, without doubt, that this mine is not good for the Central Coast, not good for the water catchment. “It is the best way for the mine to be quashed,” he said. Meanwhile, the Federal Minister for the Environment, Mr Josh Frydenberg, is yet to make a decision about whether or not the mine can be approved under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. He is expected to do so by September 7.
The bill designed to prohibit mining in the Wyong water catchment area, the Wyong (Special Area Protection Bill) is before the NSW Legislative Council but is not expected to be considered by the Legislative Assembly before the LEC case is heard.
Source: Interview, Jun 12 Alan Hayes, Australian Coal Alliance Jackie Pearson, journalist