Queensland miners "gutted" at being retrenched as approvals for a controversial coal project stalled are hoping the state government will intervene to save hundreds of jobs.
After three weeks of staff negotiations, 150 redundancies at the New Acland coal mine on the Darling Downs, near Toowoomba, have begun, potentially affecting other jobs in the wider community.
It follows a lengthy, on-going court battle to block a $900 million expansion over fears it will endanger drought-hit farmers' underground water supplies.
Heavy machinery operator Dave Anderson, 63, says he and 27 workers from his roster of 39 were given six-weeks notice this week.
"We're gutted and very disappointed, and still in shock actually", he told AAP on Thursday.
"All along, we thought things would work out okay and now it's hit."
It's especially galling for Mr Anderson, who walked off his farm due to drought, but is still paying off the debt.
He said most of the retrenched workers have families and would have to leave the region to find work due to the high unemployment rate in the area.
Mr Anderson said workers were frustrated by the politicking from all sides and hoped the government would now step in to save the jobs.
"We don't know what we're going to do," he said.
"Maybe they can reverse the redundancies and we can get our jobs back."
New Hope Group on Tuesday announced its best full-year profit in company history with revenue of $1.3 billion, up 21 per cent from the previous financial year.
Managing director Shane Stephan told investors the expansion delay was temporary and the company would continue to pursue the project.
But green-lighting it may not be so simple, with the Court of Appeal recently issuing draft orders that could see farmers' objections over the expansion reheard in the Land Court, despite a Supreme Court recently dismissing them.
In a statement, state Resources Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the government will wait for the final decision of the court on the project.
Mine opponents, the Oakey Coal Action Alliance, say they'll continue battling the expansion in fear it will deplete or contaminate underground water supplies in the area.
Australian Associated Press
