Queensland accepts court block on New Acland coalmine expansion

The state government refuses to provide an environmental licence to allow New Hope to expand mining to the Darling Downs

The Queensland government has accepted a landmark land and environment court ruling from last year and refused to provide an environmental licence to the New Acland coalmine extension.

Following the longest case in the court's history, a judge last year recommended against New Hope's plans to expand the mine into prime agricultural land on Queensland's Darling Downs, primarily over concerns about impacts on groundwater supplies, but also on air quality and noise.