This Blog provides a website to distribute, discuss and promulgate information relevant to securing the continuity of our spring water resources and the enjoyment of our rural environment generally.
Assuming prime position outside the CWA, the Association made its presence felt at the annual Rylstone/Kandos show last Saturday. Volunteers gave out information to the public and signed up new members concerned about the rapid growth of coal mining in the area and the impact that it is having on our water resources.
As the temperatures rose, many friends availed themselves of the fresh spring water sourced from the headwaters of Carwell Creek on Mt Vincent. This creek flows west into the Cudgegong River and on into the Murray/Darling Catchment.
Any coal mining under Mt. Vincent, as is presently being proposed by the Thai-owned company Centennial Coal, would cause irreparable damage this natural waterway and all the species that rely on it (including humans!).
It is the Association's mission to prevent this from happening.
Please put this date in your diary and tell all your friends. RSWUA is planning a presence of course.We'll be in touch re transport arrangements closer to the date.
Dear Members and residents of the Capertee Valley, Airly Coal, Nicole van den Berg has emailed information in relation to attending the Special Monitoring Committee meeting on 15th March. Please read the request below.
Happy to take numbers or contact Nicole in regard to your attendance, details below.
In regards to the CVA's invitation to the community to attend the next SMC meeting, please make reference to Section 3 of the Airly Special Monitoring Committee Terms of Reference that states:
I'm sure the SMC members will have no objections to anyone who would like to come to the meeting on the day however, observers cannot attend without the agreement of the committee and cannot participate without the permission of the chairperson. Can you please confirm before hand if observers will be attending on the day, so we can allocate time at the beginning of the meeting to have their presence agreed upon by the committee.
Regards
Nicole Van den Berg Environment & Community Coordinator
This documentary shows how the Government is allowing the Great Artesian Basin to be depleted and toxified. And thereby demoralise the food growers in the process. The water table over there is plummeting and the fissures in the seams are being pumped with a legacy of toxic “fracking” chemicals. Gas now flows freely from farmer’s bores and the ground bubbles with unmanaged methane.
Have a look at the politicians in the interviews – they have absolutely no idea.
Help us celebrate 20 years of vigilance over our unique springs and waterways at Rylstone/Kandos show this Saturday. Volunteers will be manning a stall with all sorts of merchandise and up to the minute information about our mission to protect our precious water from the impacts of proposed coal mining.
Come and get your very own Association cap (pictured) for only $20 or a T-shirt for $25. We will also be handing out free samples of our delicious water for anyone wishing to quench their thirst on the day.
And kids will be able to join our newly formed Puggles Club! We'll be learning about the 8 creeks that flow from Mt. Vincent and Cherry Tree Hill and all the creatures that live in them including baby platypuses, affectionately known as puggles. There will also be an opportunity to sign up for an expedition in search for these vulnerable monotremes.
So come along and meet members and mingle with friends at the Rylstone/Kandos Show, Sat 26th Feb. 2011.
The Lock The Gate Forum held in Broke this past Sunday was a big success. Thank-you to all who were able to make it. And thank-you to all who have written to extend their apologies and offers to continue assisting in moving activities forward.
This is the first of a few emails I will be sending out to you all. This email provides a brief overview of the key takeaways from the meeting. I will be sending out further details in the subsequent emails, so please be sure to read through them all.
Feel free to distribute this email and the subsequent emails.
Please remind everyone to demonstrate their support by signing up as a member organization or individual supporter at www.lockthegate.org.au
The forum was a call-to-action for all communities to participate in the prioritization, planning and execution of the Lock The Gate project activities.
The key goals of the forum were:
To prioritize project for the Lock The Gate alliance
To assemble teams to plan and execute the projects
To set goals and timelines for each project
The following current projects have been affirmed for the Alliance in the coming weeks:
1. Communications Campaign
- this will involve getting the message for the Alliance spread far and wide through stickers, posters, updated web activities and any other forms of direct communication we can muster. Everyone is encouraged to take advantage of the print material and the opportunity to add Lock The Gate to your existing print material.
2. GASLAND Campaign
- this is an ongoing campaign to get as many people as possible to see the movie GASLAND. Showings are scheduled at cinemas across NSW and QLD almost daily alongside many individual community groups sponsoring their own local showings.
3. 9-March-2011: Human Health Impacts of Open-Cut Coal Mining and Coal Seam Gas Mining Forum
- a panel of Australian and international experts will be presenting the evidence regarding human health impacts from these industries on Wednesday 9-March-2011 in Sydney - more details to follow.
4. 20-March-2011: Sydney Public Rally
- mark this date on your calendar - we hope to see thousands attend this important rally to take our message to our politicians, the media and the broader public.
5. 29-April through 3-May 2011: Queensland National Action
- a seminal event in Tara, Queensland, building awareness of the scale of the issues being dealt with by communities across Australia. Four days of workshops, displays, forums, entertainment and direct action. Tours of the local gas fields are scheduled, including the opportunity to get a view from overhead. Please plan to attend - the key days for those traveling from far afield will be Saturday 1-May and Sunday 2-May.
6. Case File
- a growing group of volunteers, backed by accredited legal, medical and scientific expert vollunteers, is building the Lock The Gate case file to support our call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry. The case file will provide briefs and summaries on a wide variety of topics relating to these industries referencing an incredible breadth of research and fact-based evidence. In some topic areas, teams of recognized experts have taken up the challenge of undertaking topic specific research to fill in the gaps.
7. Political Engagement
- a letter writing campaign is getting underway in order to help spread the message to politicians at all levels of government. The immediate priority is to solicit the opinions of individual candidates running in the NSW election.
In parallel to the above, the Lock The Gate strategy document is undergoing some refinement. Expect it to be ready by the end of next week. If you have further thoughts on our go-forward strategy, please email them to strategy@lockthegate.org.au
--
John C Thomson
Lock The Gate Alliance
mobile: +61 (0)428 439 586
email: john.thomson@lockthegate.org.au
Airly Mine
Special Monitoring Committee meeting will be held on 15th March at 10.30am at Capertee Hall.
The community are invited to attend and listen from the gallery but I think you have to be invited to speak.
If you have any questions you would like me to raise please send them to me 1 week prior to the meeting.
Financial members of CVA Inc were sent a copy of the 2010 Airly Coal newsletter.
Many thanks to the member who paid for the postage costs.
I apologise to those members who did not receive a copy as Centennial sent only 30 copies, members were posted out a copy in order of the date of membership application.
PS I understand through a member that the Bore for Airly Coal was approved yesterday (17th Feb 2011) at reduced capacity.
We have received no written comment from NSW Office of Water in regard to our submissions either as an individual or CVA Inc. The Executive committee placed on the Capertee Valley Blog a conversation held with Mr Richard Neville several days ago, visit: http://caperteevalleyalliance.blogspot.com/
This is a MUST-SEE investigative report with many very important messages. Please tell ten friends and get them to tell ten friends about this, so that this is an episode that will be seen by all Australians. This is from Peter Cronau at Four Corners...
‘The Gas Rush’ With access to guerrilla activists and their undercover filming, Matthew Carney reports on the coalition of farmers, local townspeople and even a corporate titan who want to halt Australia's gas rush.
Imagine you are running a successful farming operation; then one day a man from the gas company arrives with news that a coal seam gas field lies beneath your feet. From there 3 wells are sunk, then another 18. And then a proposal for another 30, turning your property into a thriving gas field, while threatening the viability of the working farm.
Down the road, the neighbour sells after 48 wells are sunk into his property. The compensation of $250 a year, per well was not much inducement to stay. The wells themselves are estimated to be making the companies a million dollars a year, each.
And then the gas company says they might have to move your house to sink another well into the land.
This is the experience of just one of the farmers featured on Four Corners this week.
Right across Australia gas companies are drilling down through the earth to extract the resource that the industry says will be one of the answers to our future energy needs. Already some $31 billion worth of gas projects have been approved by the Federal Government, which are expected to generate thousands of jobs and billions in revenues.
But this precious resource lies beneath homes and farms, and the food bowls of Australia.
And this is where the gas companies are drilling; prompting a heated conflict over who should pay the price for our energy supplies.
Matthew Carney reports from communities in Queensland and NSW that are directly affected. Farmers tell of their feelings of violation and frustration; their belief that they are losing control of their properties and their ability to plan for the future. As one says "It's really frustrating. We have taken on extra debt to fund our farming business and we are powerless to stop people accessing it and abusing it."
But it's not only what's happening above ground that worries them.
One farmer claims his water supplies are dropping alarmingly as the coal seam drilling causes the water table to drop at an accelerated rate. This cattle farmer believes he may only have two years supply left in one of his key water bores.
Then there is the danger posed by faulty gas wells. The program shows local activists testing for leaks and finding highly explosive gasses leaking at alarming levels.
Others talk of their fears that Australia's greatest underground water resource, the Great Artesian Basin will be contaminated and depleted. Four Corners details cases of water supplies being tainted by salty toxic water.
Many of those affected are beginning to work together on a national campaign to call a halt to "The Gas Rush".
Four Corners, presented by Kerry O'Brien, goes to air on Monday 21st February at 8.30pm on ABC 1. It is replayed on Tuesday 22nd February at 11.35 pm. You can also see the program on ABCNews24 at 8.00pm each Saturday, on ABC iview or on our website at Video on Demand. http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2011/s3141787.htm
Peter Cronau
Producer
Four Corners - ABC TV
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
GPO Box 9994, Sydney 2001, Australia
tel: (+61) 02 8333 4617
fax: (+61) 02 8333 4755 www.abc.net.au/4corners
If you would like to attend this rally please contact Rado Marjanac in regard to a seat on the bus. Email; rado@marjanacdesign.com.au
Hi Coal affected Communities - please feel free to distribute to other lists and individuals
This is just a heads up that a big rally in Sydney is being organised by and for communities across NSW to protest against the coal seam gas industry as well as the unsustainable expansion of the coal industry at the expense of farmland, water, our environment and community.
Theme: City and Country United (against the rapidly expanding unsustainable coal & coal seam gas industry) - NB: This is to be refined! Date: Sunday, 20 March at midday. Location: Sydney CBD, probably Hyde Park - to march past Macquarie St and do a loop back to Hyde Park. Speakers. Also to hear from politicians as to what their commitment will be. They'll be invited next week.
This rally is being organised by a group of committed individuals and community groups, from Sydney to the Southern Highlands to the Liverpool Plains.
The idea is for communities everywhere to be represented in big numbers at this rally and also for Sydneysiders to come out in force to show their support for an increasing number of communities fighting these fights all across NSW.
I floated that this rally was happening during the first leg of my "True Cost of Mining" tour in the Upper Hunter this week and groups such as wine growers and farmers are already organising busloads down.
Materials, flyers, posters, email, facebook event, etc all to come next week - BUT LOCK IN THE DATE & ORGANISE THE BUSES!!
Thanks everyone, have a good weekend. And stay tuned.
Cate
PS - This is not a Greens event, I am just doing a bit to help make it happen, along with others. This is driven by the community, for the community. More info to come later.
------------------ Cate Faehrmann Member of the Legislative Council The Greens NSW NSW Parliament House Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000 ph + 61 2 9230 2320 / f + 61 2 9230 2420 Twitter: @greencate Facebook: catefaehrmann Blog:catefaehrmann.org
NSW LIBERALS & NATIONALS ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC REGIONAL LAND USE POLICY
A NSW Liberals & Nationals Government today announced a Strategic Regional Land Use policy which will see greater caution in the granting of new exploration licences and the removal of major upfront cash payments at the exploration stage, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Duncan Gay said today.
Mr Gay said this is the first major step forward in nearly two decades.
"This is process-driven rather than politically-driven," Mr Gay said.
"It's about putting the proper checks and balances where they should be in the process – up front."
Duncan Gay announced the NSW Liberals & Nationals plans in Tamworth today with Nationals candidate for Tamworth Kevin Anderson, Member for the Upper Hunter George Souris and Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries.
"After 16 years of inaction from the NSW Labor Government, the NSW Liberals & Nationals have done the hard work to help bring about a fairer balance between mining and agriculture production in NSW," he said.
"We recognise there is an urgent need to strengthen the assessment of the impact of mining and coal seam gas extraction and that's why we will immediately implement a tougher process, taking a precautionary approach."
The NSW Liberals & Nationals Strategic Regional Land Use policy contains a 'transition period' which will include:
1) Greater caution in granting exploration licences – a precautionary approach will be implemented to consider the appropriateness of an area for future mining; 2) Explicit agriculture impact assessments – all new mining and petroleum applicants (during this period and on an on-going basis) will be required to undertake explicit agricultural productivity impact assessments as part of their environmental impact statement;
3) Introduction of the Aquifer Interference Regulation – whereby all development applications will be required to adhere to this Regulation.
"This is about taking a triple bottom line approach to development, which will recognise strategic agricultural land as a finite resource that must be preserved into the future," said Mr Gay.
"Whilst this will apply to all new Exploration Licences (ELs) and all new mining and petroleum project applications, the policy will also take into account all existing ELs which have not yet applied for a Mining Licence."
Mr Gay said the Strategic Regional Land Use policy will also see the removal of major upfront cash payments at the exploration stage.
"Acknowledging community concern, I am very proud to announce that the NSW Liberals & Nationals will ensure major fees in relation to the project will only be paid if the project passes our tough assessment requirements and obtains a Mining Licence," said Mr Gay.
"Our strategic plan will provide certainty to local communities that cumulative impacts are being taken into account and about how close mining will come to their towns and the effect that proximity will have," he said.
Mr Gay said the NSW Liberals & Nationals will prepare strategic land use plans for the State on a regional basis using a multi-layered approach.
"Ahead of the granting of an EL, strategic land use planning is the process that will be used to identify and define land use priorities for different areas of land within a region," he said.
"In addition to this, we will also ban the use of B-TEX chemicals in all NSW mining operations. This group of chemicals are said to be cancer causing and there is no place for them in the mining industry in NSW," said Mr Gay.
Mr Gay said the NSW Liberals & Nationals are also committed to food security.
"As part of a NSW Liberals & Nationals government, an independent section within the Department of Primary Industries will be dedicated to agricultural sustainability and food security," said Mr Gay.
"We have firm policy initiatives, with a timeline of implementation to get the job done.
"The NSW Liberals & Nationals plan is a positive step forward in the strategic land use planning process which will identify strategic agricultural land and associated water to ensure that it is protected from the impacts of mining and coal seam gas development.
"Only the NSW Liberals & Nationals believe in the real potential of regional NSW, and regional NSW will play a central role in our plan to Make NSW Number One Again."
Please find attached a scanned copy of the presentation made to us yesterday by Cascade Coal on the Mt Penny Project. Email me if you would like to receive a copy of the presentation.
The Committee felt the meeting was worthwhile and productive.
In terms of key points to note at this stage:
- They will have a website up and running “within a week”, with “more information than you could ever want”. As soon as we have the details and know it’s “live”, we’ll send you the link
- Cascade apologised for the delay in beginning community consultation. They have said people are welcome to contact them with questions (I think they can expect a few calls!)
- From the BVPA point of view, there are a couple of concerns – which we’ve raised and will continue to discuss:
o Water: The operations will require 1,500ML of water a year. Cascade say they have all the necessary entitlements in place, from the property acquisition options they already have in place (key properties in the Exploration Licence area + one other acquisition of a neighbouring property, just outside the EL). We want to have a closer look at the water issue, obviously – especially given our call for a detailed water study to be carried out prior to any development.
o Noise + Dust Baseline Measurements: We will be writing to Cascade, asking that baseline monitoring be extended to a site in the Bylong Village, and – ideally – to a couple of other points on the Bylong side of Mt Penny. We will keep you posted as to how we get on with this request.
- Director General’s Requirements (DGRs) for the project are still to be issued. Cascade expect these “by the end of the month”, and hopefully even by the end of the coming week. As soon as we know they’ve been issued, we will chase a copy and make it available.
All the best,
CRAIG
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Craig Shaw
Interim Secretary
Bylong Valley Protection Alliance
Surely not just a sparkling harbour or a beautiful river - nor a power plant or a quarry – it surely requires depth of character. A culture perhaps not just skin deep but one that goes beyond the urban and includes its food production.
Just as the Napa Valley is to San Francisco or the Yarra Valley is to Melbourne - isn’t productive farmland essential to a city’s character?
Advertisement: Story continues below
Even beyond the outskirts of our cities, as a looming global food crisisbecomes more evident, is it not madness that Governments don’t look beyond miners and developers and take food security more seriously?
Agriculture Always Comes Last
In any government development assessment, agriculture always comes last. Whether it be from the relentless call to expand urban sprawl to the inexorable march of tree changers to the miners of brown coal– the reality is that food production is under threat by all quarters.
This surely, is simply not good enough for a forward looking progressive society.
Eating Away at the Food Bowl
This week, pandering to the development lobby, the NSW opposition (these days called the incoming Government) has announced their intention to ramp up the supply of land on the outskirts of Sydney's fringes and wind back the urban-consolidation – that is building in urban areas alongside existing infrastructure.
It is disturbing that few seem to take seriously how inappropriate planning chips away at our farming sector and also damages the character and resilience of our towns and cities.
Easter Island?
Take Cessnock in the NSW Hunter Valley, the sign welcomes you by saying “Cessnock - Mines, Wines and People”. Sadly, the local government's priorities lie in that order as well.
Upper Hunter local government areas such asMaitland are amongst the most intensely mined local government areas in the country. I am not anti-mining but I don’t fancy a repeat of Easter Island either.
Tragedy Beyond Measure
The Wollondilly, that takes in towns like Picton and Tahmoor on Sydney’s south fringe, is replete with market gardeners and, unfortunately-long wall miners also.
Heartbreakingly, the Thirlmere Lakes are a chain of lakes within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and is/was well known for possessing some of the last pristine fresh-water lakes and wetlands in the country.
The current theory expounded by locals is that long-wall mining has fractured the sandstone layer which keeps the water in higher aquifers that feed ground-water systems. The crack in the upper level of the sandstone works like the plug hole in the bath, allowing the water to drain away into the deeper aquifers.
When this water disappears below, creeks and dams run dry. Of course, the Department of Environment and operator of the Tahmoor mine Xstrata (whose long wall mine incredibly extends to within a kilometre of the lakes) both maintain that there's no evidence that long-wall mining is affecting the lake levels. Humph!
That they were ever allowed to operate this close to a world heritage listed National Park is scandalous by any measure. Once we stop shaking our heads the real implications for farming viability in the area begin to dawn on us.
From an environmental and food security perspective – the Department of Environment for NSW gets a big “F” for Fail on this one.
Want an Open Cut Coal Mine Next Door?
Places like Mudgee, are filled with colonial character and have a strong gourmet following with wines, cheeses and berries, all being grown or processed in and around the township.
One lady I spoke to yesterday, who had bought her block of land there and is half-way through building, has just found out that the adjoining property has been sold to a miner intending to establish an open-cut coal mine.
Before you go off blaming local government don’t forget that NSW, under the highly controversial Part 3A of the development act, allows for the Minister to exercise ultimate discretion on all parts of the approval process for any state significant project.
In this process, an environmental impact statement need only to be carried out if the Minister agrees. Astonishingly, the Minister has executive power to circumvent breaches of environmental and heritage laws and worst of all there is no legal recourse.
As they say in the classics – no further correspondence will be entered into. If you don’t like the coal mine in your back yard well tough!
Is this really the best way to prepare our towns and cities for the future?
Food Security Not a Planning Priority
Let’s face it, the NSW Government has thumbed its nose at the farming sector for years. The Brumby led Victorian government threw over $200M to the future farming initiative educating and providing assistance with start-up capital to young farmers.
By contrast the NSW Government offered young farmers AgStart – which offered a paltry total of $3M of grants over the term of their excruciatingly long tenure. It is now scrapped and NSW is now just about the only state Government totally uninterested in young farmers.
The upshot is that aspiring-farmers are often pushed further out, to the most marginal of farming land allowing tree-changers, developers and miners to skim the cream.
Clearly, we are currently lumped with state Governments, like NSW Labor, that have very little understanding of the benefits that a thriving farming sector provides and little comprehension of the massive risks in eroding our capability to preserve water and produce food.
There is no doubt that the Liverpool plainsis one of the jewels in the crown of Australia’s agricultural sector, producing a vast range and volume of crop, sheep and cattle.
However agriculture in the Liverpool Plains is now diminishing by the day as miners, more devastating than locusts, start eating up some of our country’s best arable land. BHP Billiton, China Shenhua Energy and Santos are all active in this area writing irresistibly large cheques to farmers to leave their lands.
Even if on the surface, pastures and paddocks appear undisturbed the fact is that both miners and a reliable clean water supply are unhappy dance partners.
Haven’t we learnt our lessons from Thirlmere and others. There will come a day when coal will be seen as the fuel of bygone era and what will be left with? Waste lands of over-burden aren’t worth much!
The Pitt St Farmer
Right up there with miners on their affect on reducing the amount of available arable land is the wealthy (mostly baby boomer) tree-changers.
Let’s take the Southern Highlands of NSW just an hour south of Sydney for example. Once saturated with dairy and potato farmers, Robertson and Kangaloon with their temperate climate, rich basalt soils and very high rainfall contain some of the finest grazing land in the country.
Lamentably, there are only a couple of die-hard dairy farmers left and only two large scale potato growers.
What was once highly productive farm land is now home to some corporate refugees - directors of failed investment schemes, owners of collapsed development companies, claimants in high profile but dubious compensation cases (I could go on but I have probably offended enough people for one paragraph).
These guys clearly fancy a block of land with a nice view to go with their sports cars (all in their wife’s name of course). Most of these Pitt St Farmers intend to post hideous losses to avoid tax.
At least some pretend to farm - one wealthy landowner I spoke to recently doesn’t even see the point of running cattle anymore. Maintaining his pastures every year is a burden and now he seems to be using his 100 acres to grow a fine crop of scotch thistle, bracken and fire-weed much to the chagrin of his neighbours.
The reality is that when 50 acres in Kangaloon might set you back the best part of $3.5M, it is hardly surprising that not too many genuine farmers can afford this area. It makes it no less regrettable though.
Dairy Farms or McMansions?
Down the escarpment into the Illawarra, places like Albion Park extending out to Jamberoo are being closed in upon. Already, right next to dairy farms are cookie cutter housing estates crammed in, barely a tree between them.
Recently, in this area, despite Shellharbour Councils opposition, a new estate comprising over 700 hectares and 4800 new homes just to the north west of Albion Park called Calderwood Estate was approved by the State Planning Minister Tony Kelly.
The council said that the new development was "economically, environmentally and socially unsustainable". When developers have the power to over-ride democratically elected local representatives there is surely something wrong with the world.
What is happening here is that we have a NSW state Government that won’t listen to anyone save for miners and developers. Not residents, not councillors and least of all farmers.
What happens if we don’t remedy this myopia soon? What sort of legacy do we leave future generations?
Comment
Finally, someone has seen that although some like the glitz, glammer and wealth that flash housing and large scale mining can produce, none of it is worth anything if we dont have readily accessable food and clean water supplies.
I propose that all politicians, board members and shareholders become legally liable if their operations are proved to destroy resources for one of Australia's largest exports, clean, green and safe foods.
Hopefully someone can kick these people from their intentional slumber before the damage is too far gone! Amen to that - February 11, 2011, 9:45AM
Australian citizens are the rightful custodians of this land not governments.
Australian citizens must have a voice in deciding if, when, where and how our resources are exploited.
Our government representatives are elected to serve the Australian community and must be held accountable to act in our best interests.
Our governments must restore the balance between rampant short-term development of our natural resources and the preservation of the environment and quality of life for present and future generations of Australians.
By joining ‘Lock The Gate’ GRIP will have a greater voice. As a small community we struggle to be heard. Lock The Gate are organising many protest events as listed below.
1. Community Forum - February in Broke.
2. Four Corners Investigative report on the impacts of Coal Seam Gas industry in Australia
ABC – Monday night – 14th or 21st February.
3. Expert panel forum on the health and environmental impacts of coal
currently expected to be the week of the 13th March in Sydney.
4. Queensland Lock The Gate National Action
Date: 1-5th May 2011
Where: Tara showgrounds (300km west of Brisbane)
What: 4 days of workshops, forums, displays and direct action
Information: http://westerndowns.group-action.com/events/
5. Sydney Town Hall Rally
Scheduled for May 2011. (GRIP will be organising a bus
or a cavalcade of cars to attend this rally – we will keep
you informed on the progress of this event)
GRIP will be sending regular updates in regard to the ‘Lock The Gate’ actions.
On Tuesday 8th members of RSWUA met with Paul Toole, Nationals candidate for the seat of Bathurst at Foxwood Cafe. Paul has a farming background so could understand our issue and was sympathetic. He took on board our concerns. The key thing about the meeting was that it put Running Stream on his electoral map and alerted him to the issue here.
On Thursday 10th NSW Farmers organised a meeting for a few people to meet with Duncan Gay, Shadow Minister for Mining and Agriculture. Again we were able to familiarise him with the area and the issue. There will be a major policy announcement next week which may offer us a few shreds of hope. Part 3A of the Planning Act will be repealed and hopefully local councils given a bit more say. We’ll have a good look at the policy when it comes out. Once again the meeting was a good opportunity to get our concerns out there.
Tuesday 22nd Feb 4pm Meet the Candidates Forum at Running Stream Hall.
The three candidates for the seat of Bathurst (Labour, Nationals & Greens) will attend. so come and hear what they have to say. A good opportunity to let them know our concerns!
Further informaion from NSW Farmers
Candidates attending the meeting are Paul Toole (Nationals), Dale Turner (ALP) and Diane Solomon Westerhuis (Greens).
The meeting is being held at the Running Stream Hall (200 metres up Mt Vincent Road), commences at 4pm and will be followed by a sausage sizzle.
For more information or to confirm your attendance please contact Mitchell Clapham on 63588451.
The Bylong Valley Protection Alliance Inc has today sent letters to Minister Kelly (Planning) and Minister Costa (Water), requesting – as a matter of urgency ‑ that the NSW Government commit to undertaking an expert study of the hydrology of the Greater Bylong Valley Area (and the Upper Goulburn River Catchment more generally) – and that no further/new approvals for mining leases or exploration licences be processed until such a study is completed.
We have asked that our concerns are investigated immediately and that a response outlining their Departments’ proposed actions is provided as soon as is practicable (and preferably prior to the end of this month, given the current status of the Mt Penny project proposal). We have also asked that the ministers undertake to accept a delegation from the Bylong Valley Protection Alliance to meet with themselves and appropriate staff to discuss these matters as a matter of priority.
Call for independent water study before any Bylong developments
The Bylong Valley Protection Alliance (BVPA) has today written to the State Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly and the State Minister for Water, Phillip Costa, requesting a comprehensive water study be completed for the Upper Goulburn River Catchment before any further decisions regarding mining and the Bylong Valley are taken.
“Without such a study, we’re flying blind,” said Craig Shaw, the BVPA’s Interim Secretary.
The Upper Goulburn River Catchment has seen substantial mining development in the Ulan, Moolarben and Wilpinjong areas, with further expansion in the pipeline, with these developments already interacting with groundwater systems.
“That this activity is currently taking place in the absence of a detailed understanding of ground and surface water sources and connectivity is concerning enough,: Mr Shaw said, “but the thought that significant development in the Greater Bylong Valley Area could be contemplated without a detailed understanding of the region’s hydrology simply beggars belief.”
The NSW Government has made a commitment to meet the objectives of the National Water Initiative and the National Water Commission (NWC) has clearly stated that, in order to meet these objectives, governments need to adopt a precautionary approach to developments.
“We’re saying we need an independent, catchment-wide study, funded by the Government, in order for proper planning to take place. No decisions on Mt Penny or other projects should be taken until we know what the hell we’re doing.
“Water is too precious a resource to stuff up.”
The BVPA has asked the Ministers to respond by the end of the month, and to accept a delegation to meet with both them and relevant departmental representatives “as a matter of priorty”.
Things continue to be very busy, with developments on many fronts. Here’s a quick summary of key items of interest…
1. COMMUNITY MEETING THIS SUNDAY, 13TH FEBRUARY – FIONA SIMSON
Don’t miss this Sunday’s community meeting at the Bylong Hall with Fiona Simson from NSW Farmers. Fiona is a great speaker and is in the thick of negotiations with both the Government and Opposition regarding mining/agriculture policy. If anyone knows what’s going on, it’s Fiona. She’ll be giving us a run down on where everything’s at now in the lead up to the State Election in March.
Be at the hall around 2.45pm for a 3pm start. Those feeling so inclined are invited to bring something to contribute to afternoon tea (cake/bikkies/scones/whatever).
2. RYLSTONE SHOW (Sat 26th Feb) AND MUDGEE SHOW (Fri 4th and Sat 5th Mar)
The BVPA – in conjunction with Mid-Western Community Action Network (MWCAN) and Running Stream Water Users Association (RSWUA) – will have an information stall/booth at both the Rylstone and Mudgee shows. If you’re in the area, make sure you drop in and say hi. Better yet, if you feel like volunteering some time (say, a couple of hours morning or afternoon), PLEASE CONTACT Jodie Nancarrow (bylongstore@harboursat.com.au) to register your interest in helping and get yourself on a roster! J
3. COMMUNITY CONSULTATION MEETINGS AS PART OF THE NSW COAL AND GAS STRATEGY
These are planned for Gunnedah (Thu, 10th Feb), Lithgow (Fri, 25th Feb), Singleton (Wed, 9th Mar) and in the Illawarra (date and venue to be advised). The BVPA – along with Mid-Western Regional Council, MWCAN and others – requested a meeting be held in Mudgee but were told by email today this would not be happening. The Council has written to the Department in polite but strong terms asking that they reconsider their position, given the scale of developments planned for the region and intense public interest. Watch this space! BVPA Committee members are planning to attend the Singleton and Lithgow meetings if a Mudgee meeting doesn’t eventuate.
4. ON THE POLITICIANS’ RADAR…
Well, there’s no doubt we’re on the radar of various pollies around the place. Andrew Gee – endorsed Nats candidate for Orange (with Russell Turner retiring) was in the area about a week ago. Later this week, Cate Faehrmann (NSW Greens MLC) will be visiting Bylong and key places around the Mudgee Region. Duncan Gay (NSW Nats MLC, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and Energy) and George Souris (NSW Nats MLA, Member for Upper Hunter) will also be visiting Bylong and Running Stream this week – and Chris Parker (Greens Candidate for Upper Hunter) has also said he may pop his head in. We’re proving popular! Let’s just hope it translates into real progress on the issues that matter to us most.
5. MT PENNY SITE VISIT
On Thursday, members of the BVPA Committee will be given a tour of the proposed Mt Penny project area by representatives of Cascade Coal. I will look forward to updating you in due course on the things we learn from that meeting.
6. MEMBERSHIPS
The BVPA has now registered its constitution with Fair Trading and is officially incorporated, meaning we will now be able to process memberships. For those of you who have expressed interest an interest in this, expect to hear something from us in the next two weeks when we’ll be making official membership applications available.
7. BYLONG POLLING BOOTH FOR STATE ELECTION (OR LACK THEREOF!)
Tim Duddy (Independent candidate for Upper Hunter) contacted us yesterday to alert us to the fact that no polling booth was planned for Bylong for the State Election. This is extremely disappointing news, given that the Bylong Mouse Races are to be held the same day many people would have been expecting to vote while here. (In fact, the Bylong Hall Committee had asked that the polling booth be located at the Hall, rather than the School, for this very reason.) We will be writing to the AEC asking them to reconsider their position.
8. “IF YOU HAVE A SOUL” PICTURES AND POEM EMAIL[see posting]
We’ve had some great feedback regarding the “if you have a SOUL” email/pictures compiled by Mark Woody and Janian McMillan, with reports of it turning up in all sorts of places. Many thanks to those who have forwarded it on to others – it all helps spread the word.
That’s about it for now.
Thanks again to everyone for your support. Don’t forget the meeting on Sunday, or to let Jodie know if you’re interested in helping out at the Rylstone or Mudgee show.
Best regards,
CRAIG
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Craig Shaw
Interim Secretary
Bylong Valley Protection Alliance Inc
The once-rural Hunter Valley baked in the early February heatwave, but not under blue skies. The many and expanding open cut coal mines in Singleton and Muswellbrook Shires made sure of that. This was what the air quality looked like on Friday 4th February.
On the Tuesday before, the 1st February, the averaged PM 10 reading was ‘very poor’, exceeding national health standards where ‘people with heart or lung disease should limit exercising outdoors’.
We are told that local dust emissions could be reduced by half if best practice particulate emissions controls were put in place, and if there was ‘a substantial increase in the area of land rehabilitated each year and the application of suppressant to haul roads’.
Given the known health issues from dust particulates, why don’t they do this already? It would cost money, cut into profits.
Why aren’t they told to do it or shut up shop?
Surely not because it would displease donors, cut into royalties?
A friend sent this snap, taken from the road, of dust rising from the massive Mt Arthur mine at Muswellbrook, about two weeks ago. A common enough sight to those who live in the two shires, when passing any of the mines.
And yet the state government has just issued its NSW Coal and Gas Scoping Paper, where the scary assumptions are made that, rather than agree that these shires are over-saturated with mines and dust and power station emissions– they will get more.
‘The intensification of mining in the area between Singleton and Muswellbrook will require the careful management of potential cumulative impacts in an area that already accommodates substantial coal mining activity.’
The words say it all about the disconnect from the dangerous and dirty reality: ‘potential’? ‘accommodates’? ‘substantial’?
So we are not to worry, because it will be ‘managed’ as it is now, no doubt under equally strict consent conditions as now, since, as we are always told, the mining industry is the most highly regulated of all.
Comments are invited from the public until 15th April. Please have a read of what I consider an offensive draft blueprint for a coal-trashed future for NSW — it’s not very long — and let them know what you think!
Last week RSWUA wrote to Centennial as a follow up to the Association's letter of November to which we had not yet received a response. In the letter we asked for a full technical explanation of Centennial's proposed drilling program, when we might hear about the water census report when Centennial might address the issue of compensation for loss of water and Centennial's intentions regarding a hydrogeological survey. [letter below]
Centennial's response is attached.
cheers
Jolieske
Posted for President [click on letters to enlarge]
Thanks to Mark Woody for this photo + poem contribution to our fight for Bylong. (Photomontages by Janian McMillan.) Please feel free to forward liberally! All the best, Craig Shaw Interim Secretary Bylong Valley Protection Alliance Phone: (0411) 101988 Email: bylongmining@craigshaw.com.au Websites: www.bvpa.org.au www.craigshaw.com.au/bylongmining
The once-rural Hunter Valley baked in the early February heatwave, but not under blue skies. The many and expanding open cut coal mines in Singleton and Muswellbrook Shires made sure of that. This was what the air quality looked like on Friday 4th February.
