SCL action group says 'real plan' more mines

GTAG spokesman Andrew Bate says Bandanna Energy wants to turn the Golden Triangle into a major coal mining precinct.

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GOLDEN Triangle farmers have expressed doubt that Bandanna Energy’s Springsure Creek mine will be a single underground operation, suggesting the State Government was sold a “fairytale” about the exploration company’s plans for the wider region.

As Bandanna prepares to make the shift from explorer to fully fledged producer, a Golden Triangle Action Group spokesman said the miner’s “real plan” was to “tear a great big hole in the land” with interconnected projects on prime cropping soil.

“This is the world’s biggest Trojan horse,” GTAG’s Andrew Bate said.

Bandanna has three proposed coal projects within 50kms of each other in the CQ Strategic Cropping Land protected zone - Arcturus, Arcadia and Springsure Creek.

Mr Bate said once Bandanna was allowed to get infrastructure into the region, the company planned to turn the area “into a major coal mining precinct”.

“Rachel Nolan has taken the word of the mining companies that they will protect the land, but their real plans, which are up on their website to see, are to turn this whole area into a coal mining hub,” he said.

“At least Campbell Newman had the decency to come up here for himself, this is Rachel Nolan’s portfolio and she has never responded to our invites. Is she even interested?”

This week Bandanna Energy announced a 109% increase in Marketable Reserve at its proposed Springsure Creek Project. Drilling continues at Springsure Creek with two drill rigs programmed to expand resources to the north and west prior to production.

Yesterday the biggest mining lobby group in the state cast doubt over the science underpinning the government’s definition of SCL.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said the process was not “inclusive” and called for a review involving a wider breadth of scientific input.