Miner gets tick for Bunbury export

Collie miner Griffin Coal cleared another hurdle last week in its ambitious plans to export up to 15 million tonnes a year from the Bunbury Port.

Nine appeals had been made against the proposal, namely concerns about coal dust and its impact on air quality.

Environment Minister Albert Jacob dismissed five of the appeals against the proposal, allowing the export plan to progress to the next stage.

The Environment Protection Authority’s conditions will be tightened in response to four of the appeals which raised concerns including the affects of drudge plumes and the protection of bottlenose dolphins.

In the report, the Minister noted Griffin’s owner, Lanco Infratech, had committed to using the best dust emission management technologies.

The dust management measures include using enclosed stockpiles, conveyors and transfer points.

WA’s peak environment group hit out at the Minister’s approval, saying it brought Bunbury one step closer to becoming a “dirty coal port”.

Conservation Council spokesman Cameron Poustie said the approval would not help Griffin overcome community opposition and the ballooning costs of the plan.

“Major environmental issues related to this proposal include the health impacts on Bunbury residents from coal dust, and the Minister passed up on the chance to do something helpful about that topic as part of this decision, ” said.

“It also can’t be ignored that if the coal export plan does go ahead, it will create up to 40 million tonnes per year of carbon pollution when the coal is burned in its destination coal-fired electricity plants – another matter totally sidestepped by Minister Jacob.”

The Minister said concerns could be managed and regulated by the Department of Environment Regulation, through works approval and licensing.

If successful, Indian-owned Griffin would become Bunbury’s biggest exporter, doubling total tonnage of exports at the port.