Queensland coal mine goes against orders of Federal Government: "Tearing through our Country", Traditional Owners say

Queensland Conservation Council

22 July 2025

The Queensland Conservation Council has obtained satellite images, cross-referenced with drone footage, indicating coal corporation Magnetic South has commenced building its proposed Gemini coal mine against the advice of the Federal Government and without referring the project for assessment under national environmental laws (EPBC Act). Since May 25th at least 200 hectares of remnant forest has been recklessly cleared in an area earmarked for an open-cut coal pit.

“The shameless bulldozing of trees home to endangered animals like greater gliders and koalas by Magnetic South, without federal approval, is shocking and needs to be called in,” Queensland Conservation Coal and Gas Campaigner, Charlie Cox, said.

“The federal environment department told Magnetic South its Gemini coal project would need to be assessed for its impact on endangered wildlife like greater gliders and koalas. Magnetic South ignored that and started recklessly bulldozing habitat anyway.

“We reported this to the Department four weeks ago, providing clear evidence of the destruction. The question is whether the Department will act before it’s too late.”

The clearing is occurring despite correspondence from the federal government stating that the coal mine is ‘unlikely to hold appropriate EPBC Act approval’ and 'should they (Magnetic South) undertake an action without a decision under the EPBC Act, they carry all associated legal risks.' See document package obtained via Freedom of Information laws.

Correspondence from the Federal environment department to Magnetic South identified a number of threatened species that could be impacted by the coal mine, including the endangered Greater Glider, Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby, Koala and water resources.

“Coal mines destroy koalas and greater gliders twice over – first when they bulldoze their forest homes, and second when they dig and burn the coal beneath it to fuel climate collapse,” Cox said.

“There’s no going back, illegal clearing cannot be undone. Environment Minister Murray Watt must urgently step in and enforce the law, using his powers under the EPBC Act to protect endangered wildlife.”

Footage of the clearing can be found here.

The footage raises serious questions about whether Magnetic South has undertaken land clearing without the required federal approval, and justifies urgent intervention by the Environment Minister, Murray Watt who has the power to stop the clearing and require a thorough assessment of the project.

Ghungalu Traditional Owners have been on Country holding ceremony for two weeks, exercising their rights under Section 28 of the Queensland Human Rights Act. They are deeply concerned about the coal mine’s impacts on sacred sites, songlines, and waterways.

Zhanae Dodd, proud Ghungalu woman says:

“Magnetic South and the Gemini mine want to tear through our Country, destroying sacred sites, ripping through songlines, risking our water, our culture, our future.

“We are Ghungalu people. We have looked after this Country for thousands of years, and have now lit the sacred fire on Country in Dingo.

“We are re-occupying our land, practicing culture, holding ceremony, and protecting what is ours. This is not a protest, this is our obligation to our ancestors, our land, and the generations that come after us.

“We’ve seen an Emu and his chick here, and the endangered bridled nail-tailed wallaby. Our rosewood, our bush medicines, our fruits, everything we need to heal our body is here. This is our economy. This is our home. This is a big part of us. We are not going anywhere.

“This destruction is happening right now. The Minister has the power to stop this coal corporation's destruction. It’s all of our responsibility to take care of the country, because it’s our home. The Minister has the power to do this.”

Media contact: Ellie McLachlan, 0407 753 830

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Background

Footage of the clearing can be found here.
The satellite images represent the latitude, longitude of -23.70,149.26, the exact location of Pit C from Magnetic South's EA documents.
Lock the Gate Alliance were made aware of suspected vegetation clearing, detected by satellite imagery, on Thursday the 5th of June. Drone surveyors visited the suspected clearing area on Friday the 6th of June from 1500 - 1600 hours, conducting a ~20 minutes drone survey of the cleared area from latitude, longitude of -23.42, 149.16.
Based on initial satellite images and drone footage collected, the cleared area as of the 6th of June was approximately 180 hectares.
The clearing was visibly fresh as trees and their leaves were still green (see footage). Clearing had clearly extended further west (crossing far beyond Cooinda road and parallel fence line) than the initial Satellite images received on the 5th June.
Ghangalu Traditional Owners have been burning a sacred fire on site for the past two weeks. They are sharing their story here.
Peer-reviewed research published by the CSIRO identifies that “the single most important corridor connecting two areas of habitat was found to be located connecting Blackdown Tableland National Park to Duaringa State Forest”, an area adjacent to the proposed mine site, and identifies the proposed mine site area as significant greater glider habitat.
An EPBC Act Protected Matters Report that was generated on the 19th June for the coordinates where the land clearing was identified is available here. The report shows that there are 4 threatened ecological communities, 26 threatened species and 9 migratory species that are likely or may occur in the area.
QCC’s letter to the Minister on 20th June 2025 with more detail can be found here. The Department’s reply on 19th July 2025 is available here.

Available for interview:

Charlie Cox
Zhanae Dodd

Contact details:

QCC: Ellie McLachlan - 0407 753 830