Activists win High Court appeal against Queensland’s New Acland coal mine

The New Hope energy company has spent 13 years trying to expand the Acland Coal Mine into agricultural land near Oakey, about 130 kilometres west of Brisbane.

New Hope Group’s New Acland coal mine had hoped the High Court decision would clear the way for the state government to grant final approvals for the expansion.

Farmers from the Oakey Coal Action Alliance who have been battling the expansion “are relieved and excited” after the High Court of Australia found in their favour.

“We hope that we can win from here on in and get the mine stopped, so we can save our water and land, and leave it for future generations,” president and alpaca farmer Aileen Harrison said.

About 200 jobs have been lost while the issue has been tied up in…