Impact of Hancock mine 'underestimated'

Mining company Hancock Galilee has been accused of underestimating the negative effects of a proposed central Queensland coal mine.

A legal challenge to the $4.2 billion Kevin's Corner project has heard Hancock Galilee's evidence of the effect the enormous mine would have on groundwater is "deeply unsatisfactory".

Hancock Galilee's lawyer has said modelling found it unlikely the Great Artesian Basin would be affected.

But the barrister for mine challenger Coast and Country Association of Queensland (CCAQ), Chris McGrath, said Hancock Galilee appeared to have given an "impossible explanation" of groundwater movement in the area.

"The impacts on groundwater in the area are likely to be far greater than they suggest," Dr McGrath told a Land Court hearing in Brisbane.

CCAQ has joined local grazier Bruce Currie and two other conservation groups in opposing Kevin's Corner, which is slated for Queensland's Galilee Basin.

Mr Currie fears his cattle farm will be ruined and told the court the legal objection was the only mechanism for landowners in his position.

"I am not aware of any other way that we can stop impacts from this mine destroying our business," he said.

Hancock Galilee has highlighted the 3400 jobs Kevin's Corner is estimated to create, but Dr McGrath said the mine's economic benefits were overstated.

He said an expert would show that Hancock Galilee's economic predictions were inflated by "input-output" modelling rather than more realistic cost-benefit analysis.

"If you take into account the negatives, the overall economic benefit of the mine is much lower at least than what's said," Dr McGrath said.

The hearing has been set down for two weeks before Land Court Member Wayne Cochrane.

In a statement, GVK Hancock Coal said it had invested tens of millions of dollars on environmental assessments.

"GVK Hancock has delivered a comprehensive level of environmental assessment and consultation to achieve confidence in its ability to limit, mitigate and manage any potential groundwater impacts," the statement read.

It said there would be a comprehensive groundwater monitoring and management plan in place in accordance with government conditions.