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:
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.
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:
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
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