Policy to blame - not mines - says Harvey
29 Dec, 2010 10:26 AM
POLITICS – not the actions of mining companies – is the fundamental problem behind issues of competing land use in NSW, says Harvey Norman chairman and Thoroughbred owner-breeder, Gerry Harvey.
Mr Harvey, a significant landowner in the Upper Hunter Valley with studs running 400 broodmares, said the actions of the NSW Government and its failure to implement a balanced strategic land use policy continued to create uncertainty.
He said the NSW Government could face a catastrophe similar to the James Hardie asbestos disaster if it did not adopt a cautious approach, particularly in relation to the impact of mining on water resources.
“For the life of me, I just can’t figure out how you can be sure aquifers can’t be infiltrated with toxic material. This could have catastrophic effects, including on our exports,” Mr Harvey said.
“We could end up in a James Hardie situation somewhere in the future, accused of acting irresponsibly.”
Mr Harvey defended the right of mining companies to operate and expand – but argued that prime agricultural land such as the Liverpool Plains should be off limits.
“We should not be mining those sorts of productive areas, or the Hunter River flats. We have enough coal to last for hundreds of years – by which time it will probably be of no value whatsoever – without mining these sorts of areas.”
Mr Harvey said the State Government’s inaction on land use strategy, with a Cabinet sub-committee report due in late October yet to be released, was at the crux of the problem.
“We need mines ... The whole Australian economy is surviving on mining and, without it, the economy would be in a dreadful state,” he said.
But “adequate planning processes” were needed to provide balanced assessments.
Mr Harvey said in such an arrangement there needed to be a better balance between landholders’ rights and the broader community benefit.
“But the great problem with governments of any persuasion is that they have great difficulty not playing politics,” he said
“Politics is a dirty game, and the only aim is to get into power and then to stay in power.
“Also, they have a great aversion to the truth – and you can sort of understand that, because to tell the truth is political suicide.”
Mr Harvey, a significant landowner in the Upper Hunter Valley with studs running 400 broodmares, said the actions of the NSW Government and its failure to implement a balanced strategic land use policy continued to create uncertainty.
He said the NSW Government could face a catastrophe similar to the James Hardie asbestos disaster if it did not adopt a cautious approach, particularly in relation to the impact of mining on water resources.
“For the life of me, I just can’t figure out how you can be sure aquifers can’t be infiltrated with toxic material. This could have catastrophic effects, including on our exports,” Mr Harvey said.
“We could end up in a James Hardie situation somewhere in the future, accused of acting irresponsibly.”
Mr Harvey defended the right of mining companies to operate and expand – but argued that prime agricultural land such as the Liverpool Plains should be off limits.
“We should not be mining those sorts of productive areas, or the Hunter River flats. We have enough coal to last for hundreds of years – by which time it will probably be of no value whatsoever – without mining these sorts of areas.”
Mr Harvey said the State Government’s inaction on land use strategy, with a Cabinet sub-committee report due in late October yet to be released, was at the crux of the problem.
“We need mines ... The whole Australian economy is surviving on mining and, without it, the economy would be in a dreadful state,” he said.
But “adequate planning processes” were needed to provide balanced assessments.
Mr Harvey said in such an arrangement there needed to be a better balance between landholders’ rights and the broader community benefit.
“But the great problem with governments of any persuasion is that they have great difficulty not playing politics,” he said
“Politics is a dirty game, and the only aim is to get into power and then to stay in power.
“Also, they have a great aversion to the truth – and you can sort of understand that, because to tell the truth is political suicide.”
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