Vasse Coal Project

The Vasse Coal Project was a proposed underground coal mine in the Margaret River region in the south west of western Australia. The mine was proposed to be built approximately 25 kilometres south west of Busselton and 15 kilometres east north-east of Margaret River township. The project was proposed by Vasse Coal Management, a joint venture of the privtae company Vasse Coal (30%) and South West Coal (70%), a subsidiary of the AMCI Group.

The company is proposing a mine which would produce approximately 1.2 million tonnes per annum with a projected mine life of 15 to 20 years. The company is proposing that it could produce a thermal coal for "both domestic and export markets, and a product amendable to the Corex steel-making process."

Environmental Protection Agency rejects proposal
In March 2011 the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority announced that it had decided that "there is adequate information to demonstrate that Vasse Coal Management’s coal mining proposal is environmentally unacceptable."

A media announcement on the Board's decision stated that "the Board considered that there is likely to be significant impacts, or risks, from the proposal on the Leederville and Sues Aquifers, and on significant environmental values, including the social surrounds of the Margaret River region, which these aquifers support. Even though some of the significant impacts, or risks, may be presented as being manageable because of their low probability of occurring, the environmental consequences of some low probability event may be so serious, widespread or irreversible that the proposal, taken as a whole, on balance, presents unacceptable risks to important environmental values, and thus makes the proposal environmentally unacceptable. Based on its experience and knowledge of the complexity of matters of this kind, the Board also formed the view that more detailed and longer assessment would not alter the position."

Despite the decision, Vasse Coal stated that "LDO was seeking clarification of the basis for the decision and considering its rights in terms of appeal."

Barnett backs decision
Following the announcement, West Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, said that he supported the EPA decision. "I had expressed as Premier that I thought that was a very doubtful prospect to have an underground coal mine in a prime wine growing area of WA and clearly there were large environmental risks to the water supply and water quality in the aquifers. It does illustrate the point that this Government allowed the process to be conducted properly, independently by the EPA. But it also shows that while this is a pro-development Government, it is not development at any cost. And where projects are not acceptable they will not be approved," he said. The opposition Labor Party has also backed the rejection of the proposed mine.

Subsequently, LDO lodged an appeal against the EPA's decision. Subsequently the Environment Minister Bill Marmion, appointed Garry Middle as a the appeals committee. Originally Middle was scheduled to complete his report to the Minister by the end of August 2011. However, he has subsequently requested at least another month to complete the review.

Short lived reprieve
While the local anti-coal campaigners celebrated the decision of the EPA, their reprieve was short-lived. Shortly after the EPA Board's recommendation to the Minister, it was reported that a Canadian company, Western Coal had applied for a coal exploration licence over an area to the north of Margaret River. The deadline for submissions was April 18th. 2011. (In early 2011 Walter Energy bought Western Coal for $3.3 Billion.

Ownership
The company promoting the project is Vasse Coal Management Pty. Ltd, which is 70% owned by South West Coal Ltd and 30% by Vasse Coal Pty Ltd. South West Coal in turn is a subsidiary of the AMCI Group while Vasse Coal is a privately owned company. Vasse Coal Management have "charged LD Operations Pty. Ltd. to facilitate the mine approvals, feasibility and mine development of the project."

Contact details
Website: http://www.vassecoal.com.au

Citizens groups campaigning on the project

 * Website: http://www.nocoalitionmargaretriver.com/news/we-are-making-the-news-2/ NO COAL!tion for Margaret River
 * Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115705365147586&ref=ts NO COAL!tion for Margaret River

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Australia and coal
 * Australian Coal Association
 * Queensland and coal
 * Western Australia and coal

External resources

 * Chairman, Environmental Protection Authority, "Vasse Coal - Chairman's determination", Environmental Protection Authority, March 21, 2011. (Pdf)

External articles

 * Sean Murphy, "Grapes of Wrath", Landline, ABC TV, April 17, 2011.
 * Rania Spooner, "Margaret River coal plan knocked back", Sydney Morning Herald, December 22, 2011.
 * "Final knockback for Margaret River coal", Perth Now, February 07, 2012. (This is an AAP story).
 * "Margaret River shire fights coal applications", ABC News, May 21, 2012.