Whitehaven Coal and Shenhua have said koalas and their habitat are factored into their coal mine plans, as an Upper House inquiry continues into a steep decline in populations.
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The companies say they are toeing the line and have management plans in place.
The comments followed the recent inquiry hearing in Gunnedah, where the companies were in the firing line for clearing at the Maules Creek mine and potential clearing if the proposed Watermark Coal Mine goes ahead.
The Upper House inquiry aims to find out why there has been a drop in numbers and what needs to be done to conserve remaining populations.
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Representatives of conservation groups and the national parks association said Whitehaven's clearing in the Leard and Pilliga forests must stop and the offsets were not adequate to make up for the habitat lost.
A spokesperson for Whitehaven said koalas were considered in its management plans for mines.
"All Whitehaven operations have completed environmental assessments, including detailed flora and fauna surveys, prior to government approval; where possible impacts are avoided, mitigated and offset as required in accordance with our state project approvals and commonwealth EPBC approvals," they said.
"We implement biodiversity and rehabilitation management plans that have been approved by NSW Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Environment, NSW Resource Regulator and Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy.
"These management plans include ongoing strategies for monitoring, surveys and other programs that manage impacts to biodiversity including koalas, even when no koala habitats have been identified."
Breeza farmer Andrew Pursehouse was one of 12 witnesses who spoke at the hearing in December and shared his concerns about the vast clearing that would be carried out if the proposed Shenhua mine is approved.
Shenhua's environment manager, John Trotter, was also among the speakers, and in a statement to the NVI, said koala plans were under way for the proposed mine.
"I see my role to be one of progressing the environmental approvals, and compliance with the conditions of such approvals, such as preparation of requirement management plans," Mr Trotter said.
"I note that the Watermark Coal Mine is an already approved and commenced mine. The main approvals being the Federal Approval (a Controlled Action under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 2011/6201) and the State planning approval (State Significant Development Application Number 4975).
"Several of these required environmental management plans involve elements of koala management, including the interim koala habitat plan (approved and currently being implemented), koala plan of management (in preparation), biodiversity management plan (in preparation) and rehabilitation management plan (in preparation).
"These plans are being prepared by subject matter experts and will be approved by the relevant government agencies."