There's much more to business in Queensland than just the coal industry, parliamentary speaker Peter Wellington says.
The independent MP has lent his support to a campaign by Darling Downs residents to put a stop to the $900 million stage-three expansion of the New Acland mine, northwest of Toowoomba.
Mr Wellington on Monday accepted a petition of more than 4000 signatures calling for the Queensland government to reinstate their right to object to major mining projects.
The former Newman government made amendments to how residents can object in the Land Court to mining projects in 2014.
Mr Wellington predicted that if stage three of the mine is approved it would lead to further applications.
"I say let's stop it now," he told a small crowd of anti-mining activists outside Queensland Parliament.
"Business in Queensland is more than coal - much, much more than coal - and I will not be persuaded or lobbied by the mining groups or anyone else."
However, Mr Wellington clarified his opposition was his personal opinion and not his view as speaker.
Cattle farmer Frank Ashman, who bought his Brymaroo property four years ago, said New Hope's own environmental impact statement acknowledged the project would take a toll on water supplies.
"If we can't water our stock, there's no argument about it - our livelihood's done," he said.
"And that's pretty unfair when you think we've put $1.8-1.9 million into trying to develop this particular starting operation."
Fellow farmer Aileen Harrison recounted how the constant clouds of dust emanating from the construction of the mine contaminated her water tanks and caused health problems before she accepted an offer to be bought out.
"If stage three is allowed to go ahead, there will be another lot of people who are going to lose out again."
The current mine contributed $300 million to the southeast Queensland economy and supported 280 local and 2300 indirect jobs, New Hope said in a statement.
"Stage three of the New Acland Project will provide a further boost of $12 billion to the local, state and national economies over the life of the mine," it read.
New Hope also pointed out the mine has no fly-in fly-out workers and the new phase would extend the current operation to about 2029, taking the number of full-time jobs to about 435 and creating more construction positions.
