Article in Mudgee Guardian - 02 May, 2011
Bylong Valley Protection Alliance (BVPA) is petitioning to have the valley declared a place of national significance to protect it from potential mining for coal, semi-precious minerals and coal seam gas.
BVPA interim president Jodi Nancarrow told a Rylstone District Environment Group (RDEG) meeting on Thursday that the group hoped to present Member for Upper Hunter George Souris with the petition in May and had already collected close to 500 signatures.
“We want the Bylong Valley to be a no go area for mining,” she said.
Ms Nancarrow said only state legislation could prevent the spread of mining across prime agricultural land such as the Bylong Valley and surrounding region.
She urged those at the meeting to exercise “people power”, work together and speak out about their concerns.
“It’s not just here, it’s everywhere,” she said.
“There is no point in getting cranky with the people who work for the mining company or even the mining companies,” she said.
‘We have to get the government to change their mind – we need mandatory laws, not guidelines.”
The BVPA is lobbying for changes including better consultation with communities and a ban on the trading of exploration licenses between companies.
“Community liaison, clear and transparent dialogue – they [the mining companies] talk about it all the time, but I’ve never come across it myself,” Ms Nancarrow said.
The RDEG meeting was called to inform residents about mining proposals around the Rylstone district.
The audience viewed a segment from 60 Minutes on coal seam gas mining in Queensland and an excerpt from the US documentary Gasland.
Running Stream Water Users Association (RSWUA) president Jolieske Lips outlined the Centennial Coal’s Inglenook project for mining in the Mt Vincent area.
Ms Lips said Centennial Coal had three exploration licences across the Inglenook project area.
“There is a strong possibility that we are looking at open cut mining at Ilford, which would be a lovely introduction to a scenic area,” she said.
Expansion of existing mining at Kandos, and mining around Clandulla and Rystone were also possibilities, she said.
Ms Lips said the RSWUA was trying to ensure affected landowners worked together.
“It’s really important to talk to your neighbours,” she said.
“In areas where people have gone their own way, the difference in compensation has been in the order of 10 times.
“You cannot stop people from coming onto your land [to explore], but there is a distinct process that should happen.”
Ms Lips said the RSWUA was looking for a solicitor with a background in access agreements and the Mining Act willing to act pro bono (without charge) on behalf of local residents.
“We have approached big firms that do pro bono but we are told ‘sorry, conflict of interest’,” she said.
“We want the Bylong Valley to be a no go area for mining,” she said.
Ms Nancarrow said only state legislation could prevent the spread of mining across prime agricultural land such as the Bylong Valley and surrounding region.
She urged those at the meeting to exercise “people power”, work together and speak out about their concerns.
“It’s not just here, it’s everywhere,” she said.
“There is no point in getting cranky with the people who work for the mining company or even the mining companies,” she said.
‘We have to get the government to change their mind – we need mandatory laws, not guidelines.”
The BVPA is lobbying for changes including better consultation with communities and a ban on the trading of exploration licenses between companies.
“Community liaison, clear and transparent dialogue – they [the mining companies] talk about it all the time, but I’ve never come across it myself,” Ms Nancarrow said.
The RDEG meeting was called to inform residents about mining proposals around the Rylstone district.
The audience viewed a segment from 60 Minutes on coal seam gas mining in Queensland and an excerpt from the US documentary Gasland.
Running Stream Water Users Association (RSWUA) president Jolieske Lips outlined the Centennial Coal’s Inglenook project for mining in the Mt Vincent area.
Ms Lips said Centennial Coal had three exploration licences across the Inglenook project area.
“There is a strong possibility that we are looking at open cut mining at Ilford, which would be a lovely introduction to a scenic area,” she said.
Expansion of existing mining at Kandos, and mining around Clandulla and Rystone were also possibilities, she said.
Ms Lips said the RSWUA was trying to ensure affected landowners worked together.
“It’s really important to talk to your neighbours,” she said.
“In areas where people have gone their own way, the difference in compensation has been in the order of 10 times.
“You cannot stop people from coming onto your land [to explore], but there is a distinct process that should happen.”
Ms Lips said the RSWUA was looking for a solicitor with a background in access agreements and the Mining Act willing to act pro bono (without charge) on behalf of local residents.
“We have approached big firms that do pro bono but we are told ‘sorry, conflict of interest’,” she said.
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