Skip navigation

Deadline for Glencore to Appeal Glendell Coal Mine Expansion Elapses

profile image
Sue Higginson
NSW Greens MP
6 March 2023

9 February 2023 - The deadline for fossil fuel giant Glencore to appeal the Independent Planning Commission’s (IPC) decision to reject their proposed Glendell Coal Mine expansion has now passed, marking an end to a decades long struggle by the Plains Clans of the Wonnarua People to protect cultural heritage and the environment.

Greens MP and spokesperson for mining, coal and gas, Sue Higginson said:

 

“We are completely relieved that this date has passed and now the mining company can’t challenge the IPC’ s decision. 

 

“Scott Franks and Robert Lester, and all the Plains Clan Wonnarua Traditional Owners have never given up on fighting to protect their lands. When the IPC rejected the expansion application last year, it was a huge moment of relief but we still had to hold out while we waited to see if Glencore would appeal. Now knowing that the IPC’s decision is final, Hunter Communities can at last breathe easy. 

 

“Whilst this win is testament to the strength and tenacity of First Nations communities working together to protect Culture and Heritage, it shows how destructive and powerless our cultural heritage laws are in this State. NSW is still without stand alone cultural heritage laws and it’s well overdue for us to legislate a cultural heritage framework that takes decision making powers out of the hands of mining companies and non-Aboriginal decision makers and hands the power back to Aboriginal communities and cultural knowledge holders. 

 

“This coal expansion not going ahead is also good for climate action, but it’s not enough. We need to draw the line in the sand and put an end to opening up any more areas for coal and gas across NSW. Communities should not have to keep taking on billion dollar fossil fuel companies to protect precious cultural heritage, biodiversity and all of us from the dangerous impacts of climate change. For the climate and for First Nations justice, we need to see an end to coal and gas altogether.” Ms Higginson said. 



profile image
Sue Higginson
NSW Greens MP
6 March 2023
SHARE:

THE LATEST NEWS

Forest wars find new battleground in Shallow Crossing State Forest, South East NSW

6 March 2023 - Young Indigenous woman Takesa Frank has today met the day suspended 20m above the ground in a treesit cabled to logging machinery in a bid to halt logging operations in Shallow Crossing State Forest. In late 2019, the Currowan Fire tore through the area and just...

MEDIA RELEASE

Greens call for right to protest to be enshrined in law ahead of Cherish Kuehlmann bail hearing

1 March 2023 - UNSW educator Cherish Kuehlmann will appear in court today to challenge bail conditions set after she was arrested in the middle of the night by NSW Police last week. Ms Kuehlmann was charged with “aggravated trespass” under section 4B Inclosed Lands Protection Act 1901 - an amendment...

MEDIA RELEASE

Greens respond to failures of NSW Government to reduce Aboriginal over-representation in out of home care

1 March 2023 - The Ombudsman’s report Aboriginal Outcomes Strategy focus area 2 (out-of-home care) – were the targets achieved? released yesterday reveals that the Department of Communities and Justice failed to reduce Aboriginal representation in out of home care and did not achieve any of its four targets set out...

MEDIA RELEASE

Greens call for the NSW Government to move faster on expanding the protected area network to reach 30% of land and water by 2030

1 March 2023 - NSW must move faster on protecting land and water within an interconnected actively managed protected area network across at least 30% of the state by 2030. Just over 10% of the land area in NSW is currently included in the protected area network and we have the...


CAMPAIGNS