Acland coal mine heads back to court over illegal mining claims
New Hope Coal is being dragged back to court over allegations of illegal mining as the Queensland Conservation Council flexes its new litigation strategy.
The Acalnd coal mine is back in the courts again. (photo supplied)
New Hope informed the ASX this morning it had been advised on Friday that the QCC has served a complaint against its subsidiary New Acland Coal.
The allegations were that the company had engaged in unlawful conduct in relation to the historical mining of its West Pit.
The court action is seeking penalties and other pecuniary payment orders against New Hope in the Magistrates Court.
New Hope said it intended to vigorously defend the proceedings.
It was seeking legal advice about whether action was material.
Last week the QCC launched an enforcement arm aimed at becoming a non-government version of the environmental protection agency.
It would operate independently of the QCC and take on proactive actions to enforce Queensland laws.
New Hope stage three expansion of Acland spent more than a decade in the approval process after being hit with a series of court cases by environment groups.
