HEALTH AND SOCIAL HARMS OF COAL MINING IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Coal dust causes serious health problems in communities located near open cut coal mines. That same dust pollutes rain water supplies causing yet more health problems. And then there is the impact of mining on people's mental health.

There have been many studies worldwide which have made many more alarming health 'discoveries' but no comparable comprehensive medical research has been undertaken or published here in Australia, which is a gross oversight considering we are the world's largest exporter of coal.

But now we have a report compiled by the Health and Sustainability Unit at Sydney University, commissioned by the melbourne-based Beyond Zero Emissions group. BZE is an independent, not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation looking at ways in which Australia can kick the carbon habit and go coal turkey.

The purpose of the report is to provide an objective overview of the available international and local evidence from the health and medical literature about the health effects and social justice impacts of coal mining on local communities and to discuss and relate these issues to the Hunter Region of New South Wales. It provides a stark warning for our own community in the push to transition it from a farming-based economy to one centered on coal mining.



Here is a link to the report:

http://media.beyondzeroemissions.org/coal_health_Report_FINAL.pdf

Cobbora Coal Project

RSWUA opposes the Cobbora Coal Project and urges you to write a submission to the NSW Department of Planning voicing your concerns. 

Here is a guide to help with your submission provided by the Mudgee District Environment Group (www.mdeg.org.au).

Submission Guide

Objection to Cobbora Coal Project – (state owned coal mine proposal)

Application No: 10_0001

Deadline:  Friday 16 November 2012

stephen.o'donoghue@planning.nsw.gov.au

Online: http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=3695

Address:                   Major Planning Assessments

                                    Department of Planning and Infrastructure

                                    GPO Box 39

                                    Sydney 2001

Label your submission as an objection, include your name, address and contact details

Key Points of Objection:

1.     Cobbora Coal project is inappropriate investment of $3.4b of NSW taxpayers money

2.     The project justification is based on outdated electricity demand and coal price projections

3.     The project will generate additional greenhouse gas emissions, approx 25m tonnes per year, conflicting with State and Federal policy to reduce climate change impacts

4.     The large open cut mine will disturb approx 47km² of land with important high conservation and agricultural value

5.     The project will destroy 1,867ha of significant woodland providing habitat for 39 threatened species, including nationally listed endangered species

6.     The project will destroy significant Aboriginal cultural heritage sites

7.     The NSW Government has purchased 68 of 90 properties in the affected area. The loss of farming community and broadscale food production has not been adequately assessed.

8.     The project will use a large amount of water from the Cudgegong River and compete with the Mudgee wine and tourism industry for water supply during drought conditions

9.     Up to 10 coal trains a day will pass through Gulgong to Ulan, Wollar, Bylong and additional export product could be sent through Mudgee in the future.

Background:

Cobbora Coal project is proposed in central west NSW north-west of Mudgee and Gulgong.

It is a state-owned coal mining project tied to the sale of the power stations. It will lock NSW into coal-fired electricity generation until at least 2036.

The proposal is to mine 20mtpa (million tonnes per annum) to produce 12mtpa of usable coal over 21 years – it is extremely poor quality product with high ash content. The project aims to provide cheap domestic coal to power stations in the Upper Hunter and Central Coast.

The justification for the project is based on incorrect projections of demand for coal-fired electricity over the next 10 years. Demand has dropped significantly since this project was proposed.

The price of black coal on the export market has also dropped below the projections used to justify the need to source cheaper coal for domestic use.

 The mine will cost the NSW tax payer approx $3.4b and will be run at a loss. It is a direct subsidy to power generators in NSW.  The argument for continued coal-fired electricity in comparison to the long-term benefits of renewable energy sources has not been made. Tax payer’s money would be better invested in renewable energy sources.

Towns and properties along the coal chain will be impacted by additional noise and dust from increased coal train movements.

The open cut coal mine has a very large footprint and will cause major environmental impacts on woodland habitat as well as groundwater and surface water sources and loss of at least 79 Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.

The clearing of 1,867ha woodland habitat will impact on species listed for national protection: eg Grassy Box Woodland; endangered and vulnerable plants, including 100% loss of the local population of Tylophora linearis , endangered bird species  including australasian bittern, malleefowl, regent honeyeater, superb parrot; and vulnerable microbat species - southern long-eared bat, large-eared pied bat

Also a large number of threatened woodland birds protected under the NSW Threatened Species Act were recorded in the area of impact - brown treecreeper, diamond firetail, glossy black-cockatoo, grey-crowned babbler, hooded robin, speckled warbler, varied sittella, masked owl, barking owl, powerful owl.

The mine will need to use up to 3,700 ML (million litres) of water per year from surface water and groundwater interception. The use of high security licenced water from the Cudgegong River will threaten the water security of the Mudgee region wine and tourism industries. It could also threaten the long –term security of urban water supply from Windamere Dam.

The cost benefit analysis for the project has not taken into account the social disruption; competition for workforce with other industries, particularly the agricultural industry across western NSW; or the costs of major infrastructure upgrades, particularly rail lines, to accommodate additional coal transport.

For more detailed information go to above web address.

Notice of General Meeting

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING

3pm Sunday Nov 4, Running Stream Hall

Dear Members,

We wish to advise you that, due to an administrative error, we need to call a general

meeting in order to once again formally adopt the new model constitution, a copy of which

can be found at:

http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/Cooperatives_and_associations/Incorporating_an_ass

ociation/About_the_constitution/Model_constitution.html

We look forward to your understanding in this matter. We will also have a special

presentation by Mitchell Clapham, from the NSW Farmer’s Association, on the process

used in mediation/arbitration so we hope that you will be able to join us.

Best wishes,

Your Committee.

AGENDA

1. Special Resolution ‐ Adoption of Model Constitution

a) The Committee recommends to the members at a General Meeting that the following

Special Resolution be adopted:

That Running Stream Water Users Association adopt the Model Constitution

prepared by the Dept of Fair Trading to replace the present Rules.

Explanatory Notes

Over two years ago the legislation covering incorporated associations changed. Instead of

Model Rules, there is now a Model Constitution. Currently RSWUA is operating under the old

Model Rules, with some changes. If we adopt the Model Constitution it means if there are any

legislative changes, our constitution is automatically updated and therefore we are always

compliant with the legislation. This means one less administrative detail for your committee to

keep tabs on. The Model Constitution is essentially the same as the old Model Rules. However

it would mean the following changes:

1. Proxy voting is no longer allowed.

2. Decrease in the number of committee members. In our old Model Rules we had a

committee of 12. The Model Constitution has a committee of seven with four Office Bearers as

they are now called. These are President, Vice‐President, Secretary and Treasurer. However

there is provision to have as many sub‐committees (appointed by the committee) as we want.

This would therefore allow more members to be involved in the running of the association

should we have a sudden rush of enthusiasm from our members wanting to be on the

committee. In addition, a person with special expertise could be invited to attend specific

committee meetings in an advisory capacity.

3. Our financial year will have to run with the fiscal year i.e. from 1 July to 30 June.

President's Report

RSWUA PRESIDENT’S REPORT to AGM 2012

It is about 18 months since my last report and not a lot has changed regarding the threat to our

water. But there has been a most embarrassing administrative glitch. Last September we voted to

adopt the new model constitution. However, as the form to advise Dept of Fair Trading of the

decision was never sent, that decision is now void and we have to do it all over again, which we

will do at our next meeting at 3pm on November 4 at the Running Stream Hall. Fair Trading was

very understanding and as we are such a small organisation they are not worried.

On a more positive note, your Association has been active in a number of ways:

Events

1. March 2011 – The Puggles Club was launched. Its purpose is to engage young people in

learning about how important running streams are, not just for us humans but for all living

creatures, and to encourage them join us in our mission to protect our precious water. And we

have held two excursions with young members.

2. We have participated in a number of rallies to tell the government that food and water is more

important than coal. The first was the Coal and Coal Seam Gas Rally in Sydney in March 2011.

The second was a rally in May 2012 organised by the NSW Farmers Association in response to

the draft Land Use Strategy outside Parliament House in Sydney

3. March 2012 – Mudgee Mining the wHole Story (a two-day educational event organised by 7

local community action groups including RSWUA)

5. July 2012 –presence at combined community action group stall at Mudgee Small Farm Field

Days where new RSWUA membership postcard was distributed.

Submissions

We continue to write submissions to the government on behalf of our members. Major submissions

we have made are:

1. April 2011 – NSW Coal and Coal Seam Gas Draft Strategy

2. Sept 2011 – National Food Policy

3. April 2012 2011 - Draft Strategic Regional Land Use Policy

4. July 2012 – draft Aquifer Interference Policy

We also urge you to write your own letters. You have the power to influence government and I

plead with you all to please take a half hour and put pen to paper whenever we ask. We try to

make it as easy as possible by giving you all the points to make, but you need to write your own

personal introductory paragraph.

Exploration

Early last year (March 2011) Centennial presented their Water Census Report. It is not the full

hydrogeological study that we continue to press for but it is a start. In July 2011 a Drill Rig open

day was held. However by the time drilling finally commenced in April 2012 Centennial had

changed the type of drill rig. In June 2012 they held a series of Drilling Demonstration Days.

The Inglenook CCC has met seven times so far. I remind members that if there are issues they

would like raised at those meetings, don’t hesitate to contact myself or the other committee

members. Minutes of the meeting are on Centennial’s website:

http://centennialcoal.com.au/Operations/Projects/Inglenook.aspx#Landholder-Liaison-Programme

At the last CCC meeting we were given copies of the Review of Environmental Factors and I

encourage members, particularly those with some scientific training, to look at this and ensure it is

adequate. A copy can be found here on Centennial’s website:

http://centennialcoal.com.au/~/media/Files/Inglenook%20Documents/Environment/Inglenook%20E

xploration%20Review%20of%20Environmental%20Factors.ashx

You can also pick up a hard copy from their office at Spring Park (opposite Running Stream Hall)

or by phoning them on 6358 8340.

We also looked at some core samples and had the term “ash content” explained. There are two

types of ash: one appears as a distinct band in the coal; these were formed from when there was a

lot of volcanic activity and clouds of ash settled forming bands within the coal seam. These are

fairly easily removed in the washing process through flotation. The other type of ash is embedded

within the coal itself. It comes from ash being mixed up within the vegetation as it is laid down and

this is harder to remove.

Rumours are flying around regarding the quality of the coal resource at Mt Viincent. In

conversation with one of our members, it was pointed out that while coal from the area might be

high in ash it is low in impurities and could be combined with coal from another region such as

Indonesia where it is low in ash, but high in impurities to make an acceptable blend. We have to

remember we are now dealing with an international company.

So we wrote to Centennial to clarify. Here is their response :

“At this early stage of the project no comment can be factually made about coal quality from the

Inglenook Exploration Project due to the low number of samples and incomplete analysis of

samples obtained. Appropriate comment can be made once a definitive understanding of the entire

coal resource is achieved through analysis and interpretation of all coal samples. Assessment of

the coal resource will accord with requirements of the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) and

the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Centennial Coal is committed to communicate project

information relevant to the community through the CCC and other communication methods”.

I also asked, again, how Centennial was going to compensate landholders and their neighbours

for loss of water due to their activities. Again the response was they would take that question on

notice, but this time we are supposed to get an answer at the next CCC meeting in October.

Access Agreements

As you know, drilling has commenced, with about nine landholders having signed agreements.

Negotiations with the “Denman Group” as six of us have been dubbed have ground to a halt, with

Centennial advising they will now take it to arbitration, and they have started with one of the group

(interestingly not one of the two with whom they began negotiations). However that person then

went on holidays for a month, so we haven’t heard where it is up to.

In conclusion I encourage you all not to give up hope; coal is a twentieth century source of power.

Keep writing to the government urging it to move into the twenty first century, support jobs in

renewable resources and above all think of the future and ensure our good quality land retains its

water resources and so continues to grow food for our growing population in the centuries to come.

Jolieske Lips, September 2012

NEW COMMITTEE

At the September AGM there was a committee reshuffle and new members were elected.

Your new committee is as follows:

President Nell Schofield

Vice President Guy Sim

Secretary Jolieske Lips

Treasurer David Drinkwater

Committee members Christine Maloney, Fiona Sim, Prudie Woods, Pam Chadwick

Congratulations to all our new committee members and deepest thanks to our former

committee members, especially Suzy Flowers for her dedication and commitment to the

preservation of our shared water resource. We are delighted to have Jolieske Lips remain

with us as Secretary and acknowledge her invaluable work as President.

We’d also like to extend a very special thank you to Craig Shaw, Secretary of the Bylong

Valley Protection Alliance for his fascinating presentation at our AGM. Entitled

‘UnderEddie’, his talk took members on a guided tour of the dark underbelly of the coal

mining business in the Bylong Valley by Eddie Obied and his associates. There are many

suspicious interconnections between ‘colourful identities’ and we await the outcome of the

ICAC enquiries with interest. If you’d like to keep up to date with developments in Bylong

Valley you can join the BVPA mailing list at http://www.bvpa.org.au/

And a quick reminder for those members who haven’t yet paid your membership for 2012, it

would be great if you would renew as soon as possible so that our new Treasurer can update

the books. Either fill in the attached form and post it to us with your cheque or make a direct

deposit and send an email to us at runningstream2850@gmail.com advising that you have

done so.

Many thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing you at our next meeting for a

special presentation by Mitchell Clapham from the NSW Farmers Association.

GENERAL MEETING

3pm, Nov 4 2012

Running Stream Hall

Big Plans for NSW Development

The NSW Planning Green Paper has caused much concern among community groups, over 50 of which have now banded together under the umbrella of the Better Planning Network http://betterplanningnetwork.good.do/nsw/email-the-premier/

Their main concern is the focus on "economic development and competitiveness" over the  interests of residents and rate payers.

Here is an article by Wendy Bacon detailing the background to the group's formation and explaining how the notorious Eddie Obeid fits into the picture:
http://newmatilda.com/2012/10/19/big-plans-nsw-development

We will be voting on whether to join this group at our next meeting on Nov 4 so come along and have your say!

MEET THE CANDIDATES

7.30 pm Thursday 30 August Rylstone Memorial Hall

Come and meet the candidates in the upcoming council elections

Candidates have been invited to give a brief talk about their platform and policies, and how they will pursue these if they win office.

Brief talks will be followed by a Q&A session.

Gold coin donations at the door will go to Rylstone Hospital Auxiliary and ADA Cottage.

Refreshments will be provided by Rylstone Branch of the CWA.

‘Meet the Candidates’ is a community initiative supported by Bylong Valley Protection Alliance, Central West Renewable Energy Group, Mid Western Community Action Network, NSW Farmers (Rylstone Branch), Running Stream Water Users Association, Rylstone Artisan and Producers Association, Rylstone and District Historical Society, Rylstone District Environment Society, Rylstone Kandos Business & Tourism and Rylstone Kandos Show Society.

Council elections will be held on Saturday 8 September 2012.

Who Knew Mining Could Be So Corrupt?

Recent revelations about the dirty deals behind the Bylong Valley coal push show that all is not fair in mines and politics.

Read on:

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mining-interests-shocked-as-licences-inquiry-unveiled-20120807-23sd8.html

Coalpac Consolidation Unacceptable

Authority says Coalpac’s proposal too noisy for residents

After carefully reviewing documents, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has stated it cannot

support the Coalpac Consolidation Project, proposed by Coalpac Pty Ltd, due to the unacceptable

noise impacts it will have upon residents.

The NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure called on the EPA to review the related

Environmental Assessment for the Project and stated within its submission:

(the EPA) cannot support the project as is currently proposed for the following reason:

1. The EPA considers that the potential for unacceptable noise impacts upon both rural

residents and the residents of Cullen Bullen is too great based on the assumptions in the noise

modelling of the proposed 24 hours a day/7 days a week operations.

“Cullen Bullen residents have been repeatedly told by Coalpac Pty Ltd that it holds the interests of the

residents in the highest regard and yet has laid down a proposal that threatens their livelihood,” says

Justin McKee for the Blue Mountains Conservation Society.

The EPA’s submission also noted:

Even with all the extensive noise mitigation in place the noise modelling predicts adverse

impacts at 9 locations during the day and 36 residential receivers at night.

“Coalpac ashamedly told residents in a public meeting earlier this year that their lifestyle would not be

compromised and this project was good for the town.”

In further outlining its position, the EPA wrote:

The EPA has concerns with the proponent’s commitment and ability to fully and effectively

implement the required noise mitigation measures based on previous experience at the site.

“Coalpac Pty Ltd has a history of being unreliable on mitigating noise issues in the past. It is

encouraging to see the EPA standing firm against repeat offenders within the mining industry.”

The cost implications for the presented mitigation (Section 4.4) would be extensive; no cost

estimates and no timetable have been put forward for mitigation implementation.

“The owners of Coalpac have been trying to sell the company since October 2010. The sale would be

gigantically more profitable if this project is approved. Comments from the EPA highlight that Coalpac’s

focus is on profit and not the lives of people living in Cullen Bullen,” concludes Mr McKee.

Media Contacts: Justin McKee 0404 824 020 Link to EPA submission: http://bit.ly/NZPjaR

HOW DIRTY IS YOUR COAL MINE?

Forget the Carbon Tax and the family roast, the Association recently got out the calculator to find out  what impact the Charbon Coal Mine is having on our atmosphere.

Charbon is an apt name for this carbon polluter -a high altitude mine located between Kandos and the tiny town of Clandulla on the western side of the Great Dividing Range. It was established over 50 years ago to fuel the local cement works but has now expanded greatly, producing 1.3 million tonnes of coal each year. Most of this is sent by train to Port Kembla for export to Asia.

When combusted, this releases 3.12 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere which is the equivalent of adding just over 2 million new cars to the roads!

If you add all the diesel fuel they use to dig up the coal, that's a lot of greenhouse gas pollution.

Now Centennial Coal will have to pay a tiny percentage of their profits to the government for the privilege of fouling our airways. It's doubtful that this will be a disincentive for them but whichever way, we are the ones who pay with a degraded environment.

Cobbora Mine Public Meeting

The proposed Cobbora mine has major impacts on water supply to the Mudgee region. Possible coal trains are another big concern. If you want to find out more about these issues come to the meeting this Thursday 5th July.

The (w)Hole Story video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMvCSvogO8k

If you missed the action in Mudgee when the Association along with six other community action groups joined forces to oppose any more mining in our region then don't fret! Click on the above link for a video documentation of the day.

And stay tuned for the next event currently being organised by volunteers with The (w)Hole Story.

The Sky Is Pink

Josh fox has released a short follow up film to his award winning 'Gasland' and you can view it here:

The Sky Is Pink

It's all about the water.

Lue Action Group Newsletter – Blackmans Gully Mess & More

LAg Newsletter Issue 2 – Blackmans Gully Mess & More

Read all about it here (PDFDownload: LAg Newsletter Issue 2):
Update on impact of Kingsgate mine exploration on local environment, more fact about lead impact on health and environment, invitation to public meeting and more…

 

Click on text to enlarge

A Cautionary Tale

King Coal Dethroned

We live in hope! The statistics in this article are encouraging anyway - worth a read. http://theconversation.edu.au/king-coal-dethroned-6977 If the statistics are correct (and sources quoted appear reliable) it also shows just how much influence the media can have on perceptions and how you can't rely on (some) newspapers as your only source of information.

Lodge a submission objecting to the Coalpac Consoldation Project.

Time is running out ! 

 

The cut off date is Friday 1st June 2012. 

 

It's very important we get hundreds if not thousands of individual submissions in on this issue and influence the decision making process. So tell everyone you know to invest five minutes to help you save a beautiful part of the iconic Gardens of Stone. 

 

Here's what to do. 

 

Fill out the form half way down this page with your personal information:

http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=4332 

 

In the box that has the heading 'submission' you need to include a statement saying that you object to the proposal and some reasons why. Here's an example: 

 

Re: Coalpac Consolidation Project: Application No: 10_0178

I support the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage's wish to add the Ben Bullen State Forest to the conservation reserve system as a matter of priority; it is an area with outstanding natural values.

I object to the Coalpac Consolidation Project entirely for the following reasons: 

• Rehabilitation of open-cut coal mines is incapable of restoring the original biodiversity and geodiversity of the Gardens of Stone Reserve Proposal. 

• This mine would destroy the habitat of over 400 native plant species.

• Our iconic lyrebird uses the sides of pagodas in this area to nest and raise its young. Mining will completely remove its food habitats in the valley below.

• The community will be locked out from a very large part of public land for at least 21 years. I expect to be able to access public land freely. The NSW Government would effectively be allowing the privatization and liquidation of public land if it approves this proposal.

• If approved, the mine would scalp all biodiversity from hundreds of hectares of public land within the Ben Bullen State Forest.

• The project proposes to kill 19,200 vulnerable Eucalyptus cannonii, trees and this is unacceptable.

• The project is likely to produce acid mine drainage that will impact on local streams for many decades. It may also produce elevated levels of heavy metals that will also kill aquatic life. This is occurring right now with one of Coalpac's old mines, the Canyon Colliery Mine, which is contaminating streams with unsafe levels of zinc and nikel impacting the Heritage-listed Grose Valley. 

• Coalpac has put forward a biodiversity offset package that is inadequate. Coalpac cannot replace critically endangered habitat and open-cut mining should avoid these rare environments. 

• This mine would destroy the habitat of 35 mammal species, 15 of which are listed under the EPBC Act. 

• Habitats for 12 bird species threatened under the EPBC Act including the Regent Honeyeater, Tiger Quoll and Powerful Owl will be completely removed.

• There will be increased threats to the health of children attending Cullen Bullen Public School because of the open-cut mining nearby.

• A minimum 5km buffer zone excluding open-cut mining should be established around the town of Cullen Bullen to protect its social values and amenity.

 

 

More suggestions for bullet points can be found here: 

http://www.bluemountains.org.au/gc-submission-guide.shtml 

 

Thank you for your time and contribution to to this important campaign. 

 

Please do not hesistate to contact me with any questions directly to help you get your submission lodged:

0404 824 020

 

Kind Regards

 

 

Justin McKee

Blue Mountains Conservation Society

M: 0404 824 020

Social Impacts of Coal Rush

Last night's Four Corners program highlighted the negative impacts of the coal rush on the town of Moranbah in Queensland which was purpose built for coal mining families in the 70s but is now being swamped by Fly In Fly Out workers as the nearby coal fields ramp up production.

Women are scared to go out after dark because rape and attempted rape is up 95%.

What sort of country are we creating for our children? How will they benefit from this boom?

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2012/05/25/3510948.htm

In the news: ICAC and coal exploration licence tender process

Members of the Obeid family, including the former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid, expressed interest in buying a Denman farm nearly three years before an Obeid family friend and financial adviser was granted a coal exploration licence over the property.

Read the story here: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/obeid-family-looked-at-land-on-coal-lease-20120522-1z1ri.html#ixzz1veWwkR63

See also: Looking at Eddie Obeid links in coal deal (The Telegraph, 24 May)

BIMBLEBOX

Come and see Bimblebox!
 
How do we respond to massive change in our own backyards?
This is a doco you don’t want to miss.
 

 Screening in Mudgee Sunday 3 June and Rylstone Thursday 7 June, Bimblebox is a beautifully filmed documentary about how a small regional community is dealing with the massive and rapid expansion of the coal and coal seam gas industry – threatening to change forever the region’s landscape and livelihood.
 
‘This documentary isn't just about Bimblebox Nature Refuge – it's about landholders all over Queensland and New South Wales ...’   
Bimblebox explores the huge Australian coal export industry from the grassroots up. With music by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, the film features many prominent members of the debate against coal expansion in Australia including Guy Pearse (Global Change Institute), Ove Hoegh-Guldberg (University of Queensland) and Matthew Wright (Beyond Zero Emissions).
 
Club Mudgee (Soldiers Club)
99 Mortimer Street Mudgee
2.30 pm Sunday 3 June

Rylstone Memorial Hall
Louee Street Rylstone
6.30 pm Thursday 7 June

Entry: gold coin donation

For more information about Bimblebox visit http://bimbleboxdocumentary.com/
Organised by the combined community groups of the Mid-Western Region.
For updates and more information visit www.midwesterncommunity.org.au <http://www.midwesterncommunity.org.au>

DRILLING RIG OPEN DAY

DRILLING RIG OPEN DAY

                                          The drill rig that is currently being used on Mt Vincent

Many of you may not be aware that Centennial is using a different drill rig to that which we saw last July. The new rig also has a different water usage regime. So you might want to come to one of the open days Centennial is holding next week at the former Mt Ilford Winery (1159 Mt Vincent Rd).


You need to ring 63 588 340 to register your attendance. You have 5 sessions to chose from:


Thursday 24 May 8.30-10.00am and 2-4pm


Friday 25 May 8.30-10.00am and 2-4pm


Saturday 26 May 9-11am


You must wear closed-in shoes and long trousers. You will also have to take part in an induction process for OH&S, and only 4-6 people will be escorted to the drilling rig at any one time.



While we understand the need for only small numbers at a time at the actual drill site, it does mean each one of us has to think to ask every possible questions to ask. That’s the advantage of a public meeting; we can all hear everyone else’s questions, which often prompts us to think of further questions.



To assist us all in gaining the maximum benefit from these open days, you might like to post your questions here on the blog (or email it to us at runningstream2850@gmail.com) then we can all go to the open day with a full set of questions. Your Association later will post a report with hopefully satisfactory answers to all the issues that are raised.