Australia’s largest coal producer, Glencore, has applied to the federal government to extend its polluting Hail Creek open cut coal mine, near Nebo in Central Queensland.
Environmental advocates are calling on federal environment minister Murray Watt to reject the project due to the catastrophic impacts it would have on a koala population that experts say is of ‘national significance’ and its role in fuelling climate disasters impacting Australian communities, through its harmful methane pollution.
The project plans to clear 600 hectares, equivalent to over 300 Gabba sized football fields, of high quality koala habitat directly adjacent to the Homevale National Park. In June 2025 Lock the Gate conducted thermal drone koala surveys of one small area of the project. The surveys found 13 individual koalas within an area of approximately 160 hectares. These survey results show a high density of koalas in the areas Glencore plans to clear.
An additional 29 million tonnes of thermal and metallurgical coal would be mined for the project, extending the life of the mine for another three years until 2038 and releasing at least 70 million tonnes of climate pollution into the atmosphere.
Glencore is seeking approval under Australia’s national environmental laws (EPBC Act) Under the laws, Watt can declare the project “clearly unacceptable”, meaning it cannot proceed any further through the approvals process.
Central Queensland coordinator for Lock The Gate, Dr Claire Gronow says:
“If environment minister Murray Watt is serious about the Albanese government’s ‘no new extinctions’ policy he will immediately reject this destructive coal mine to prevent the bulldozing of over 300 football fields worth of koala habitat.”
“In November 2025, Minister Watt stood in front of Parliament and said that Australia has “a crucial responsibility to protect and restore habitat” for Australia’s unique and special species. He also said that Australia had to “lead by example and practice what we preach”. Here is his chance to do exactly that, by stopping a coal mine that will destroy nationally significant koala habitat”
Glencore’s Hail Creek coal mine has attracted global controversy after several peer reviewed studies identified it as a methane ‘super polluter’ that grossly under-reports its methane pollution. The mine releases extremely high levels of methane gas and is estimated to contribute 20% of Australia’s coal mine methane pollution, while accounting for just 1% of Australian coal production. Methane is a climate super-pollutant, trapping over 80 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, exacerbating climate disasters like fires and floods.
Queensland Conservation Council campaigner, Charlie Cox says:
“This disastrous project will add another 68 million tonnes of carbon pollution to our already overheated atmosphere, putting even more pressure on natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and fuelling more climate disasters like the floods and fires that have recently smashed Queenslanders."
“The Australian government must protect our communities from the dangers of climate change, not throw more fuel on the fire by approving super polluting coal mines for multinational corporations like Glencore.”
Mackay Conservation Group Campaigner, Imogen Lindenberg says:
“In just the last few months, Australians have been hit by fires, floods and record-breaking heat, clear warnings that climate change is already at our doorstep. Approving more coal right now is adding fuel to the fire, but approving an expansion of the most methane intensive coal mine is adding a whole fuel tanker.”
“The Albanese Government was elected to protect Australians and secure our future. Allowing the Hail Creek expansion would put corporate profits ahead of community safety, and that’s simply not good enough.”
Media contact:
Imogen Lindenberg
0477 997 392