Environmental lobby group, Clean Air Queensland (CAQ) will target marginal electorates across south-east Queensland in answer to the LNP’s back-flip on the expansion of the New Hope mine at Acland.
The Premier Campbell Newman and the LNP Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington broke their promise made before the 2012 election not to allow the expansion of the mine.
CAQ spokesperson Michael Kane said: “The LNP reversed a core election promise after receiving $700,000 in political donations from the New Hope Coal Group, the owner of the Acland mine.”
The mine, 150 kilometres west of Brisbane and within a few kilometres of the townships of Acland, Jondaryan and Oakey, is a significant contributor to the 12 million tonnes of coal that will be transported in uncovered wagons through the towns of Oakey, Toowoomba, Ipswich and 21 suburbs of Brisbane as they make their way to the Brisbane port near Wynnum.
The mine expansion will increase residents risk of health problems including asthma, chronic lung disease and cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks, strokes and hypertension as well as cancer caused by the coal dust generated by the uncovered wagons and coal stockpiles. Noise pollution is also a problem.
Clean Air Queensland will campaign in electorates along the coal train corridor from the Darling Downs to the Port of Brisbane.
“Around 40,000 children attend day care or school with one kilometre of the coal train corridor in south-east Queensland and we will make sure our anti-coal dust message is heard in this election,” he said.
Contact: Michael Kane
Clean Air Queensland spokesperson
0438 766 230
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