High court voids Mount Pleasant coal expansion approval
Australia's highest court ruled the expansion of MACH Energy's Mount Pleasant coal mine was approved against the law.
Australia's highest court found the planning authority failed to consider how to reduce emissions from exported coal. The court ruled the approval of the expansion in Muswellbrook invalid on Wednesday.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said Thursday the government would not change state law in response. Minns called it a narrow technical decision.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the mining company could reapply to the commission. He believed the decision would not stop future coal projects in NSW.
Environmental lawyer Sue Higginson from the Greens said the ruling changes the legal situation for other Hunter Valley coal projects. This includes the Hunter Valley Operations extension approved last week.
- MACH Energy
- Company
- Mount Pleasant, Muswellbrook
- Mine location
- Wednesday
- Decision date
Why it mattersThe ruling sets an example. Officials must consider the full climate impact of coal exports, not just local effects.
AustraliaNSW coal approvals now face legal risk if they ignore overseas emissions from exported coal; may affect Hunter Valley expansion projects worth billions.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 d ago
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