Media release: Koalas and climate key grounds for objecting to Hail Creek coal mine expansion
Mackay Conservation Group
20 May 2026
The Mackay Conservation Group (MCG) has lodged an objection in the Queensland Land Court seeking to have Glencore’s planned expansion of its Hail Creek open-cut coal mine in the Bowen Basin refused on several grounds.
Hail Creek has been reported as Australia’s most methane-polluting open-cut coal mine. [1] It has attracted global controversy after peer reviewed studies identified it as a methane “super emitter” [2], with emissions potentially between three and eight times higher than those reported to the federal government. [3]
If the project were to proceed it will result in the destruction of more than 600ha of high-quality koala habitat [4] and the release of about 70Mt of greenhouse gas emissions [5], equal to about 15% Australia's total annual emissions in 2023. [6]
“These dire climate impacts are based on the company’s own data, which scientists say could exclude substantial emissions of methane [7], an extremely powerful driver of global heating,” MCG Coordinator Emma Barrett said.
“The Hail Creek expansion will stoke the climate-change furnace that is heating our planet and will needlessly destroy critical habitat for threatened koalas and squatter pigeons, driving them closer to extinction.
“That is too high a price to pay to extend the life of the mine for only about three years. This project is dirty and dangerous and should not proceed.
“It is now five years since the International Energy Agency (IEA) clearly stated that all coal expansion must stop to avoid catastrophic global heating.
“The IEA also made it clear that existing met-coal production is enough to meet demand to 2050. There is no justification for opening any new coal mines. [8]
“It is well past time we stopped approving coal mines, especially such an intensively polluting project like Hail Creek. We are urging the court to recommend rejecting this harmful project.”
MCG is being represented in this matter by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), a community legal centre specialising in environmental law.
EDO Managing Lawyer Andrew Kwan said: “Our client opposes this project on several grounds, including the impacts on climate, biodiversity, human rights and ecological sustainability.
“A major concern of MCG is the project’s significant greenhouse gas emissions, including both direct (Scope 1 and 2) and indirect (Scope 3) emissions.
“The mine is highly methane-intensive, being some 75% of its Scope 1 emissions [9] – yet no additional monitoring or mitigation of these emissions is currently proposed. [10]
“Our client will argue the project is inconsistent with national and international climate commitments, including limiting global warming and meeting emissions reduction targets.
“MCG will also argue that the project would have unacceptable impacts on biodiversity, including the proposed clearing 680ha of bushland.
“Much of that bushland is habitat for koalas and the squatter pigeon – both listed as threatened under national environmental law.”
Key impacts
- approximately 680ha native bush, including mostly habitat for koalas and squatter pigeons, which are listed as threatened species [11]
- 24Mt of thermal and metallurgical coal will be extracted [12]
- Almost 70Mt (CO₂-e) of climate pollution [13]
- 3 years’ extension of the mine’s operation, from 2035 to 2038 [14]
MEDIA CONTACTS
MCG | Emma Barrett | Coordinator | 0402 966 560
MCG | Imogen Lindenberg | Climate Campaigner | 0477 997 392
EDO | James Tremain | Media Adviser | 0419 272 254
TIMELINE
|
2038 |
Proposed life of the mine. HCOC’s EA authorises operations on MLs 4738 and 700026 and mining of a maximum of 20 million tonnes Run of Mine (RoM) coal per annum. The Applicant proposes to extend the life of the mine by 3 years out to 2038. |
|
2026
|
Apr 2026 – Mackay Conservation Group objected to the Qld Govt’s recommended approval. Mar 2026 – Queensland Government recommended approval for the extension (state level). Awaiting Federal Government assessment. Late 2025 – early 2026 – Assessment by Queensland Government continued (including environmental and land-use considerations). |
|
2025
|
May 2025 – Proponent submitted response to information request for EA amendment. Jun 2025 – Public notification / consultation closed for major amendment to Environmental Authority (EA). Dec 2025 – Environmental Authority (EA) Amendment Application for the Hail Creek Open Cut Eastern Margin Extension Project formally referred to the Commonwealth under the EPBC Act (EPBC 2025/10403). |
|
2024 |
Jan 11 2024 - The Environmental Authority (EA) Amendment Application for the Hail Creek Open Cut Eastern Margin Extension Project was submitted to the Queensland government by Hail Creek Coal Holdings Pty Limited (HCC) (a subsidiary of Glencore Coal Assets Australia) on behalf of Hail Creek Joint Venture (between HCC (84.7%), Marubeni Resources Development Pty Ltd (12%) and Sumisho Coal Development Queensland Pty Ltd (3.3%)) |
|
2010s
|
2015 - Expansion into the Eastern Margin approved. 2016 - Approval granted to extend the Hail Creek mining operation to include open cut, highwall and underground mining. |
|
2000s
|
2001 - Revised EMOS lodged | EM M 2295 issued | Mine construction commenced. 2003 - First coal produced. |
|
1990s |
1996 - Environmental Management Overview Strategy lodged. |
|
1980s |
1982 - Hail Creek mine lease granted. |
REFERENCES
[1] These Australian coal mines are methane super-emitters, AFR, 30-11-2021.
[2] Methane emissions from Queensland mine may be gross underestimates, UN research finds, The Guardian, 26-03-25.
[3] Coal mine methane emissions much higher than previously reported: study, UNSW, 26-03-25.
[4-5] Environment Assessment Report Hail Creek Eastern Margin Extension Project, SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd, 2024
[6] National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Quarterly Update: December 2024, Australian Government, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
[7] Borchardt et al, 2025. Insights into Elevated Methane Emissions from an Australian Open Cut Coal Mine Using Two Independent Airborne Techniques, p 401 [link]; Sadavarte et al, Methane Emissions from Super emitting Coal Mines in Australia Quantified Using TROPOMI Satellite Observations, p.16577 [Link];
[8] Net Zero Roadmap: A Global Pathway to Keep 1.5C In Reach, Report, IEA, 18-05-2023
[9] Hail Creek Eastern Margin Extension – Appendix B – Replacement GHG Assessment Report, p.39 table 19 and p.41, figure 5; [Link]
[10] Hail Creek Eastern Margin Extension – Appendix C – Draft GHG abatement plan, pp.6-8. [Link]
[11] Hail Creek Eastern Margin Extension – Appendix H1 – Replacement Ecological Assessment Report, pp.ii-iii [executive summary].
[12] Hail Creek Eastern Margin Extension – Environmental Assessment Report, p.1 [1.1]; also see correction letter regarding reference to run-of-mine coal being product coal.
[13] Hail Creek Hail Creek Eastern Margin Extension – Appendix B – Replacement GHG Assessment Report, pp 38, 42 [tables 18 and 20].
[14] Hail Creek Eastern Margin Extension - Environmental Assessment Report p.1 [1.1]
- Ends -
Contact details:
MCG | Emma Barrett | Coordinator | 0402 966 560
MCG | Imogen Lindenberg | Climate Campaigner | 0477 997 392
EDO | James Tremain | Media Adviser | 0419 272 254