Friends of the Earth spokesperson Dr Bradley Smith warns that it's important to recognise the costs of these projects on the community and environment.

“What benefit will this project bring to the people of Mount Larcom who will have a coal train going trough their town every 15 minutes, 24 hours per day?” Asked Dr. Smith.
The Wiggins Island rail project and associated port development are under scrutiny by the World Heritage Committee, who are planning a visit to Gladstone to assess the impact of the coal and gas port expansion.