Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen is buried near the family home, Bethany Homestead, which falls within Cougar Energy’s exploration licence north of its Kingaroy UCG project. The development licence was granted this week.

“I certainly hope nothing happens there because I want to be buried beside Joh anyway,” she told ABC News.

Cougar said its main focus was on its current projects and did not expect to exercise the exploration permit for years.

The company’s licence MDL 385 allows it to move ahead with planning and developing its 400-megawatt power station project beginning with the pilot burn stage, scheduled for July.

Cougar owns 100% of the Kingaroy UCG project.