Conservationists say they're not afraid to take on Gina Rinehart in their Supreme Court challenge to the Alpha Coal project.
Ms Rinehart's Hancock Coal hopes to build a 30 million tonne per annum open-cut coal mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin as a joint venture with Indian company GVK.
It would be among Australia's largest mines, with a lease area of 60,000 hectares.
But in 2014, the Queensland Land Court accepted the lobby group's evidence that the project would have severe impacts on the state's groundwater.
At the same time, it recommended approval with stricter conditions.
A two-day Supreme Court judicial review application began on Wednesday morning in Brisbane.
Environmental Defenders Office chief executive Jo-Anne Bragg said the decision was flawed.
"It was very clear from the Land Court's decision that the severe groundwater impacts warranted refusal but they didn't get that quite clear enough in their decision," she said outside court.
"The former environment minister rushed ahead and approved the project even though there was this Supreme Court legal action underway."
Coast and Country will argue the environmental approval was based on a flawed Land Court decision.
"We're not afraid to take on Gina Rinehart on behalf of our clients when there are major issues like climate change and groundwater, which is the lifeblood for graziers," Ms Bragg said.
The conservationists also say the court should have taken into account greenhouse gases produced from burning the coal overseas.
Grazier Bruce Currie said the mine would destroy livelihoods.
"We have to protect our groundwater because without it, we lose our business, our homes and our future on the land," he said.
Ms Bragg said a decision was not expected for weeks or months but denied the case was merely an attempt to delay the project.
GVK Hancock has been contacted for comment.
In a statement, GVK Hancock denied the mine would impact groundwater, and said legally-binding agreements with property owners were in place should any damage occur.
A spokesman said delaying the development was costing the state and federal governments more than $44 billion in taxes and royalties and blocking the creation of more than 20,000 jobs.
Share
