Renewable Energy consultation - and stopping a coal mine
Hi everyone,
I’m writing to let you know that there is a lot of Renewable Energy Zone consultation happening over the next few months - it’s a long list so I will post it at the very bottom of this e-mail. Some of these are drop in sessions, and some of these are more structured workshops which will require registration here. Please let your friends know that this is on, as some dates have already passed - but I only got this detailed information yesterday, so I am doing my best to pass it on to the right people as soon as possible. Scroll down to the end for the dates!
There’s also a letter for you to send to the Resources Minister, to stop a mine in the high value agricultural area just north of Bundaberg.
Gladstone Conservation Council has been involved in protecting this area for more than ten years. We can see these developers off as well! After sending the frackers packing, we now have a coal proposal. This has already been rejected by the Resources Minister once, gone to Court, and now the Minister needs to remake his decision. Please take a couple of minutes to e-mail the Resources Minister to save our farmland.
The fox is in the henhouse, Friend,
After already causing considerable damage, coal companies are continuing to eye off agricultural land in Queensland.
Now, Fox Resources is seeking a licence to explore for coking coal near Bundaberg - but the local community are having none of it. They have been opposing the development since 2019.
With an impending decision from the Queensland Resources Minister, it’s an important time to take action and support these farmers and community members standing up for prime agricultural land, the Great Barrier Reef, and the climate.
The Queensland Minister for Resources in 2022 rejected Fox Resource’s project, citing it as ‘not in the public interest’, but now a Supreme Court reversal of this decision has brought the project back onto the table.
Farming and value-adding in the Bundaberg region is worth $2 billion to the economy yet Fox Resources wants to mine on prime agricultural land a hop, skip and a jump away from the Bundaberg CBD. Fox Resources have an existing exploration permit covering high productive farms growing macadamias, sugarcane, small crops and more! Plus, their permit area is within cooee of the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
If the project goes ahead, Fox Resources will be intercepting local aquifers to access the coal, putting precious groundwater at risk for local farmers and residents.
This coal mine threatens the lifeblood of Bundaberg farmers and local communities - they need your support to stand up to this unpopular project. Will you send a message to the QLD Resource Minister using our easy form and urge them to reject this mine?
The government’s own report in March 2024 highlighted that ‘world trade for metallurgical coal is declining’ and will decline out to the end of the decade, as steel technology transitions away from metallurgical coal*.
The local economy, groundwater and farmland should not be risked for a commodity that has a risky future.
Scott Stewart’s decision is imminent, so please support the local community and make sure he makes the right choice by sending a message today.
Thanks for your support,
Ellen for Lock the Gate Alliance.
* BHP: As the steel technology transition accelerates, met coal’s biggest exporter wants to get even bigger, IEEFA Analysis, 29 April 2024
Renewable Energy Consultation dates
Department of Energy and Climate
Register through the website here:
https://www.energyandclimate.qld.gov.au/energy/renewable-energy-zones/rez-community-talks
Moranbah
10 June 2024
Drop-in session: 4pm–7pm. No registration required.
Venue: Moranbah Youth Community Centre, 2 Appleton Street, Moranbah.
Dululu
11 June 2024
Drop-in session: 11am–2pm. No registration required.
Venue: Dululu School of Arts, Recreation Reserve, Bryant Street, Dululu.
Rockhampton
12 June 2024
Drop-in session 1: 11am–2pm. No registration required.
Drop-in session 2: 4pm–7pm. No registration required.
Venue: Range Room, 62 Victoria Parade, Rockhampton.
Taroom
17 June 2024
Drop-in session: 4pm–7pm. No registration required.
Venue: Taroom Town Hall, 16 Yaldwyn Street, Taroom.
Theodore
18 June 2024
Drop-in session: 3pm–6pm. No registration required.
Venue: Theodore Bowls Club,13 First Avenue, Theodore.
Banana
19 June 2024
Drop-in session: 4pm–7pm. No registration required.
Venue: Banana Sutherland Hall, 32A Bowen St, Banana.
Biloela
20 June 2024
Drop-in session 1: 11am–2pm. No registration required.
Drop-in session 2: 4pm–7pm. No registration required.
Venue: Biloela Civic Centre Auditorium, 95 Rainbow St, Biloela
Mt. Larcom
22–23 June 2024
Pop-up at the Mt Larcom District Show
No registration required.
Gladstone
4 July 2024
Workshop: 12pm–2pm. Register now
Venue: Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct, 1 Pengelly Street West, Gladstone.
Calliope
5 July 2024
Workshop: 4pm–6pm. Register now
Venue: Calliope Hall at 32 Stirrat Street, Calliope.
Gladstone
6 July 2024
Pop-up at the Gladstone Show. No registration required.
Venue: Gladstone Showground, Corner Scenery Street and Tank Street, Gladstone.
Biloela
8 July 2024
Workshop: 5pm–7pm. Register now
Venue: Biloela Civic Centre Auditorium, 95 Rainbow St, Biloela
Moura
9 July 2024
Drop-in session: 4pm–7pm. No registration required.
Venue: Kianga Memorial Hall, Corner McArthur Street and Young Street, Moura.
Banana
10 July 2024
Workshop: 5pm–7pm. Register now
Venue: Banana Sutherland Hall, 32A Bowen St, Banana.
Theodore
11 July 2024
Workshop: 5pm–7pm. Register now
Venue: Theodore Memorial RSL, 30 The Boulevard, Theodore.
Moranbah
16 July 2024
Workshop: 5pm–7pm. Register now
Venue: (TBC)
Rockhampton
18 July 2024
Workshop: 5pm–7pm. Register now
Venue: Range Room, 62 Victoria Parade, Rockhampton.
Rockhampton
Rockhampton
26–28 July 2024
Pop-ups at the Rockhampton River Festival. No registration required.
Gladstone
6 August 2024
Drop-in session 1: 11am–2pm. No registration required.
Drop-in session 2: 4pm–7pm. No registration required.
Venue: Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct, 1 Pengelly Street West, Gladstone.
Calliope
7 August 2024
Drop-in session: 11am–2pm. No registration required.
Venue: Calliope Hall at 32 Stirrat Street, Calliope.
Rockhampton
8 August 2024
Drop-in session 1: 11am–2pm. No registration required.
Drop-in session 2: 4pm–7pm. No registration required.
Venue: Scotia Place, 201 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton.
Biloela
13 August 2024
Drop-in session 1: 11am–2pm. No registration required.
Drop-in session 2: 4pm–7pm. No registration required.
Venue: Biloela Civic Centre Auditorium, 95 Rainbow St, Biloela.
Banana
14 August 2024
Drop-in session: 4pm–7pm. No registration required.
Venue: Banana Sutherland Hall, 32A Bowen St, Banana.
Theodore
15 August 2024
Drop-in session: 4pm–7pm. No registration required.
Venue: Theodore Memorial RSL, 30 The Boulevard, Theodore.
Moura
16 & 17 August 2024
Pop–ups at Moura Coal and Country Festival.
No registration required.