Graziers, greenies take on Xstrata mine

Global giant Xstrata should be refused permission to open a new coal mine in Queensland that will have serious adverse impacts on the climate and nearby graziers, a court has heard.

Green group Friends of the Earth appeared in the Brisbane Land Court on Monday in an attempt to scuttle an 11,000-hectare coal mine planned for the small town of Wandoan, 400km northwest of Brisbane.

The group says it will be the first in Australia to argue for an outright refusal of a mine based on its climate change impacts.

They are arguing the mine, which will extract 30 million tonnes of coal each year and create 1.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, will lead to catastrophic impacts through the burning of coal.

"This mega mine will be one of the largest coal mines in the world, and contribute a sizable 0.15 per cent of annual global emissions every year," Friends of the Earth spokesman Dr Bradley Smith said.

"This might sound like a small number but in fact it's the equivalent to the combined emissions of 72 countries around the world and roughly equivalent to the fossil fuel emissions of New Zealand."

Friends of the Earth was joined in court by farmers from the Wandoan region, who are objecting to the mine because of fears it would dramatically affect their lifestyles and livelihoods.

The landholders have filed more than 20 grounds of objection against the project.

These include concerns about air, soil and water quality, noise, vibrations and the impact on fauna.

The court was told they were also worried about the effect of dust on grazing, specifically in relation to respiratory illnesses in cattle.

Lawyers acting for Xstrata told the court they would call expert testimony that would alleviate fears held by landowners.

They also said the company had invested an enormous amount of time and money in ensuring its plans adhered to best environmental practice.

They conceded there would be a 40 per cent agricultural reduction in the region during the mine's operation but said the area would be fully rehabilitated when the mine closed.

Xstrata's legal team said the economic benefits from the mine would be enormous, with up to $336 million injected into state coffers during operations.

It's also expected to pull in more than $3.7 billion in royalties over the initial 30-year lease.

The case continues.