Controversial coal mine granted significant infra status

The New South Wales government has granted a mine plan, it has yet to see, State Significant Infrastructure (SSI) status. This comes less than a year after the Dendrobium coal mine in the Illawarra had its bid for an extension rejected by the Independent Planning Commission, which found the project was not in the public interest due to the risk of “long-term and irreversible impacts — particularly on the integrity of a vital drinking water source for the Macarthur and Illawarra regions, the Wollondilly Shire and metropolitan Sydney”.

In other news, the ACT has extended its sustainable households scheme, now offering interest-free loans for electric vehicles in addition to solar panels and battery storage systems.

NSW coal mine that had extension rejected on water safety risks granted State Significant Infrastructure status

The New South Wales government has taken the unprecedented step of granting a yet unseen mine plan State Significant Infrastructure (SSI) status.

'Concerning' levels of heavy metals found in people living near the world's biggest manganese mine

High levels of the heavy metal manganese have been detected in people living in the Indigenous community of Angurugu, near the world's biggest manganese mine in the Northern Territory.

ACT launches interest-free loans for electric cars to boost uptake

Drivers in the Australian Capital Territory can now apply for zero-interest loans designed to boost the uptake of electric vehicles, as industry groups call for similar programs to be adopted across the country.

Labor vows to stick to weak emissions target in face of Greens pressure

Labor has set up a clash with the Greens on climate change in a bid to assure voters it will not change its 43 per cent target to cut greenhouse gas emissions if it wins the election, insisting the Parliament would have to pass the goal or vote it down.