Coal mine plans anger residents

RESIDENTS opposed to mining to the west of Ipswich say they were shocked to learn coal mining was set to resume at Ebenezer.

Jack Tan, chairman of mining company OGL Resources, met with Mayor Paul Pisasale this week to discuss his company’s mining plans.

Mr Tan later announced to the Stock Exchange that OGL met with the Mayor, Councillor David Pahlke and other Ipswich Council members to discuss OGL Resources’ planned acquisition of the Ebenezer Coal Mine (ML 4712) and Bremer View Coal Project (MDL 172) from Zedemar Holdings.

He told the Stock Exchange the Mayor “supports OGL to re-open the old Ebenezer mine site (ML 4712) subject to complying with all the mining conditions and full consultation with the community”.

Mine opponents had been concerned that OGL planned to mine on the 9000 hectare MDL172 site.

But Mr Tan said OGL “does not have any mining plan for MDL 172 at this stage”.

“This project will require further exploration assessment under the conditions set out in the MDL 172 licence,” he said.

He also said OGL “does not have any intention or interest in coal seam gas exploration or development in the Ipswich region”.

But he said open cut coal mining on an existing mine site at Ebenezer would resume, possibly as soon as next year.

A small but vocal group of people met in Rosewood on Thursday night to air their concerns about mining.

The MDL 172 Group is opposed to mining in that area but is also opposed to reopening mining in Ebenezer.

Group spokeswoman Terri Wright said 80 to 100 residents could be affected by the mine.

The group had previously decided to launch legal action to stop mining.

On Thursday night, the group’s legal representative said: “The time has passed for talk. It’s time for action.”

The meeting, attended by Cr Pahlke and LNP Ipswich West candidate Sean Choat, also heard residents are sceptical that plans to mine in MDL 172 will stay shelved for long.