Prosecutors have dropped the charges against the former directors of Linc Energy over a failed coal gasification project on the Western Downs.
Key points:Founder Peter Bond and several other executives were charged in 2016An environmental group says the decision to abandon legal action is "galling"The Queensland government, which now manages the site, says it will consider its options
In 2016, the company's founder Peter Bond and several other former executives were charged with environmental offences relating to contamination at the company's underground coal gasification (UCG) site near Chinchilla between 2007 and 2013.
The matter had been due to go to trial this month in the District Court in Brisbane, but the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to discontinue proceedings against Mr Bond and Donald Schofield, Stephen Dumble, and Daryl Ratta.
Crown Prosecutor Ralph Devlin QC told the court on Tuesday "the Crown will not further proceed on the indictment".
In a rare request Judge Leanne Clare SC asked Mr Devlin to provide a reason for the decision for discontinuing court proceedings.
“Given the enormity of the prosecution and the cost and time, and also the impact on so many people, it calls for an explanation on the record,” she said.
Mr Devlin told the court the prosecution was no longer satisfied it could prove serious environmental harm on individual counts after rulings were made about evidence in pre-trial hearings.
The Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the government would now consider its options.
"This outcome does not detract from the fact that Linc Energy committed serious environmental harm," she said.
"[It was] a decision that was upheld by the courts in 2018 with the largest-ever penalty imposed of $4.5 million under Queensland law."
The state government had accused the directors of failing to ensure Linc Energy complied with the Environmental Protection Act.
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