“It’s very difficult to see how any future coal project avoids the judge’s finding about this being the wrong time for it,” he said. In his judgment, Preston explicitly cited the project’s potential impact on climate change, writing that an open-cut coalmine in the Gloucester Valley “would be in the wrong place at the wrong time”. “The NSW Land and Environment court has effectively ruled that coal – just like tobacco and asbestos – is bad for us,” McKenzie said. A spokesman for the NSW planning and environment department said the department was pleased the court had agreed with its recommendation on the proposed coal mine. “This decision shows NSW has a robust and transparent planning process that is delivering the best outcomes for the whole community.”

Source: The Guardian February 07, 2019 23:21 UTC