New pressure for coal mine plan review

Environment Minister Bill Marmion is under mounting pressure to allow a full assessment of a coal mine plan in Margaret River, with WA's industry and mining bodies lodging appeals against a ban on the plan.

The WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Association of Mining and Exploration Companies and Chamber of Minerals and Energy have all raised concerns over the Environmental Protection Authority's refusal to consider the Vasse Coal project.

The industry bodies say the environment authority's refusal to allow a full public environmental review undermines the approval process.

Mine opponents argue a full assessment would cast further uncertainty over the region and the project is patently environmentally dangerous.

But CCIWA chief executive James Pearson said he appealed because of concerns over the EPA process.

"CCI's appeal on this matter is not based on whether the project should proceed or not, but whether the EPA's assessment of this application has been conducted in an open, transparent and fair manner," he said.

AMEC chief executive Simon Bennison said the project deserved a fair hearing.