The Oakey Coal Action Alliance had previously announced a Land Court challenge to the granting of an associated water licence that allows New Hope to deal with groundwater in the pits. It then sought for an undertaking that New Hope would not act on the mine’s development until the application to the court had been decided.

While the stay application has been removed, the original appeal against the associated water licence remains.

OCAA has been the main objector in the expansion of the mine that has been delayed for years because of court cases and appeals that have been as far as the High Court.

However, New Hope said the removal of the stay application meant it could ramp up with some certainty while “also having our day in Land Court”.

The company said the negotiations with OCAA related to the mining of overburden and coal from the yet-to-be-developed Manning Vale West pit. That was scheduled to start in September next year.

“The outcome means the threat of OCAA mounting another legal challenge to delay the project has been removed for now and allows New Hope Group to accelerate the mining activity already underway at Stage 3,” the company said.

The mine’s general manager Dave O’Dwyer said the withdrawal of the OCAA stay application is a welcome outcome for the workers.

“Resolving the stay application with OCAA means that we can start digging coal from the Manning Vale East pit, which is the first area we have been developing since the Queensland Government approved the porject in October last year,” he said.

“We can also progress development of the planned adjacent Willeroo pit and begin construction of the Lagoon Creek Crossing.

“While we have confirmed mining of overburden and coal in Manning Vale West Pit is not expected before September 1, 2024, we are able to undertake surface works, including the building of infrastructure, exploration and bore drilling on the site.

“Multiple Queensland Government Ministers, their respective departments and numerous independent experts have critically assessed and evaluated every aspect of the project and found New Acland Mine Stage 3 stacks up environmentally, socially and financially.

“OCAA’s withdrawal of the stay application allows us to extract coal with certainty while also having our day in Land Court to support the Queensland Government’s decision to approve Stage 3.”

OCAA secretary Paul King said court orders limited New Hope’s conduct in the Manningvale West pit.

“On the basis of this agreement and our current understanding of the risk of new Hope’s proposed activities, we are satisfied tha the mining company’s other planned works will not interfere with groundwater, vital to farmers, before out objection to the associated water licence is heard,” King said.

“Farmers can’t afford to lose the groundwater that sustains agriculture in this region. We’ve always said the Darling Downs is for farming, not mining.

“New Acland’s coal mine, once fully operational, would drain millions of litres of groundwater that farmers rely on to produce beef, grain, and dairy for Queenslanders.”