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
May 29, 2012
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
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
May 23, 2012
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)
See also: Looking at Eddie Obeid links in coal deal (The Telegraph, 24 May)
May 22, 2012
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>
How do we respond to massive change in our own backyards?
This is a doco you don’t want to miss.
‘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>
May 20, 2012
DRILLING RIG OPEN DAY
DRILLING RIG OPEN DAY
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.
May 7, 2012
LAST DAY FOR SUBMISSIONS ON 4TH COAL LOADER
Only hours left to make a submission about the proposed 4th coal loader in Newcastle. The plans beggar belief.
You can make a submission here:
You can make a submission here:
Email
to: plan_comment@planning.nsw.gov.au
Here is the submission your Association has made. Feel free to use it:
Objection to Proposed Fourth Coal Export Terminal in Newcastle
Project Title: Port Waratah Coal Services Terminal 4
Application No: 10_0215
Our Association wishes to object to the proposed Fourth Coal Export Terminal in Newcastle. The supposed “benefit” of this is far outweighed by the costs: the costs to the environment, the health of the community, the social and economic fabric of the community. It should not go ahead. Detailed are below our some of our reasons for our objection.
Impacts on habitat, endangered and threatened species, and migratory birds
- Part of the 4th terminal site is currently National park. The National park lands include critical habitat for migratory shore birds that needs to be protected. National park lands must not be included in the proposed development.
- The 312 ha project site includes 91ha of valuable native vegetation and 24ha of open water habitat. In particular: 18.8 ha of saltmarsh (an endangered ecological community under TSC Act) 28.9ha of mangrove and 27.3 ha of freshwater wetland of which 4 ha are listed as an endangered under the TSC Act.
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- Loss of habitat for 23 threatened fauna species including Australasian bittern (Endangered, EBPC Act) and the Green and Golden Bell frog (Vunerable, EBPC Act).
- Loss of habitat and the disruption to an ecologically significant proportion of a population for four migratory shorebird species listed under international conservation conventions. At least 11 species of migratory birds recognised by international treaties rely on the habitat of deep pond and its proximity to the RAMSAR listed wetland.
- Off sets cannot hope to compensate for loss of habit at the site. The proposed off-set site at Ellalong has already been identified as critical for conservation in its own right. It is also approximately 50 km away from Koorigang Island, therefore fails to compensate for the loss of Deep Pond, which provides key foraging and roosting habitat due to it s proximity to RAMSAR listed wetlands in the Hunter estuary.
- Deep Pond is the only freshwater drought refuge in the Lower Hunter Estuary system. It is relied upon by at least 15 species of waterfowl of which 3 are listed as threatened under the TSC Act.
- Due to high value habitat and the protected species dependant on it, plus its key relationship with the nearby RAMSAR listed wetlands, Deep Pond needs to be protected and management coordinated with the ongoing conservation efforts in the Hunter Estuary.
Air Quality
- The environmental assessment downplays the effect the 4th terminal would have on air quality stating “The T4 project is not expected to result in any criterion exceedences on any additional days of the year”1. It defies belief that the uncover coal stockpiles for a coal loader of the size of T4 will not increase the amount of coal dust effecting Newcastle suburbs.
1 P243 Vol 1 Air Quality report
- The project does not plan to implement best practice for dust control measurements. Best practice would be not to have any stockpile.
- The EA only considered trains to affect residencies within 20m of the rail line. This is does not represent an adequate assessment of the air quality impact of increased coal transport as a result of the 4th terminal.
- The current guidelines are outdated and fail to account for the findings of ongoing health studies which demonstrate that total suspended particles (coal dust) are of greater detriment to human health than when the guidelines were put in place.
- The precautionary principle should be applied to potential health impacts of the T4 proposal. Approval should be not be allowed until a more conclusive health and air quality study is undertaken for the Newcastle LGA.
Dredging and water pollution
- There is no plan to fully remediate the heavily contaminated T4 site. The T4 proposal will therefore cause the leaching of existing toxic material into groundwater and surrounding surface waters via a ‘squeezing effect’. Result will be pollution of both the neighbouring (National Park and RAMSAR listed) wetlands and the Hunter River.
- An increase in shipping will negatively impact harbour water quality with sediment disturbance (some of it contaminated), release of bilge water, more antifouling agents, chemicals and oil spills, and dumping of debris. It will also reduce access for other harbour users and increase the risk of introduced species.
- The T4 proposal requires the realignment of the banks of South Arm of the Hunter River and construction of a ‘turning circle’ or ‘swing basin’ to accommodate the world largest ships. The proposal also requires dredging of the South Arm of the river from its natural depth of 2m to 4m to 16.2m with 17.8m deep shipping berths along each bank.
- The dredging will have massive impacts including the removal of aquatic habitats and impacts on estuarine habitats via changes to tidal hydrodynamics and salinity. Also potential of creating stagnant deep holes, altering currents, causing river bed erosion and liberating pollutants which are currently trapped within the bottom sediments.i
- The EA fails to deal adequately with the impact of the massive dredging necessary for T4. The approval for South Arm dredging, given by the previous State government, should not be relied on for a significantly different proposal.
Social and economic impacts on Newcastle and Lower Hunter
- There is no additional operational employment associated with the T4 Project
- Loss of other economic activities in the port, like tourism, fishing and other shipping.
- The project would facilitate an increase of at least 41 additional coal trains per day through the suburbs of Maitland and into Newcastle. This Increases congestion on the rail lines, noise and dust.
- Noise and vibration from site operations 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
Increased traffic congestion through construction period.
- Impacts on commercial fishing are expected from the loss habitat and contamination.ii
Impacts of increased coal mining in NSW
- The completed project would facilitate the equivalent of at least 15 more large coal mines in the Hunter Valley and Liverpool plains.
- The Costs of more mining to the State include: Green House Gas generation at mines, loss of agricultural lands, blasting, noise, air quality, loss of aboriginal and non-aboriginal heritage, visual impacts, loss and pollution of surface water and groundwater, damage to aquatic ecology, flora and fauna loss.
- Research shows the health impacts of the coal industry estimated at $2.6 billion Australia wide. Pollution from coal affects all major body organ systems and contributes to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. In the Hunter Valley this impact is all the more prevalent due to the proximity of coal mining, transport and infrastructure to communities. The 4th terminal project would facilitate a massive increase to health impacts in the region, for this alone the negative contribution of the project far outweighs any merits.
- 22 more coal ships visiting Newcastle every week, pushing out other port users and the potential investment of other port industrial, commercial, tourism opportunities.
- The 4th terminal would provide for the equivalent of 15 more large power stations around the world, meaning an extra 288 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year fuelling the global climate crisis.
Overall
- The strategic need for the project does not justify its approval. The current pace of coal mining expansion in the Hunter region is already coming at a cost to the environment and human health that far outweighs the benefit of royalties it provides in return.
- The 4th terminal project depends on further mines and expansion of existing mines that are not guaranteed to occur. The upgrading of PWCS exiting terminals and the new NCIG 3rd terminal (to 211 million tonnes total from 89 million tonnes in 2002) can already accommodate for a large increase in coal exports from Newcastle.
- To approve additional export infrastructure (to 331 million tonnes in total) and destroy the ecological values of the T4 site takes no account of the potential decrease in the commercial viability of coal sales in the future.
May 2, 2012
Protect Gardens of Stone – Say No to open cut mining!
Public Rally 11am Saturday 5th May 2012, Springwood NSW
Protect Gardens of Stone – Say No to open cut mining!
Where: Town Square, 180-184 Macquarie Road, Springwood
What: A peaceful rally of Blue Mountains residents and other members of the community who object to open cut mining in the Gardens of Stone area, North-West Blue Mountains NSW.
Entertainment: A short performance by Ecopella, an a capella choir
Speakers: Cate Faehrmann - Greens MLC, Trish Doyle, Labor's spokesperson for the Blue Mountains, Justin McKee – Campaigner, Blue Mountains Conservation Society
Note: Roza Sage, Member for Blue Mountains has been invited to speak or provide a representative for the NSW Government; no RSVP has been received at 2nd May 2012.
Why: NSW environment groups have proposed that some 40,000 hectares of the visually stunning Gardens of Stone be protected within the State’s conservation reserve system. Mining companies have lodged applications with the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure to open-cut mine in the area proposed for conservation.
The Gardens of Stone is named because of its sandstone rock formations (pagodas) and the abundance of native wildlife that lives there. A large proportion of it remains unprotected from high-impact activities such as open-cut mining.
The ‘Coalpac Consolidation Project’, is on exhibition for public comment until 1st June 2012. If approved, the Project would destroy 843 hectares of habitat for over 400 native plant species, 35 native mammal species and 12 threatened bird species. Large amounts of dust will be unleashed into the atmosphere, increasing the level of small particles existing within close proximity to the town of Cullen Bullen and its Public School. This is overwhelmingly against the public interest. so come and support the rally
Running Stream Joins Thousands at Rally
Association members joined with around 5 thousand people from both country and city regions who rallied outside Parliament House yesterday to demonstrate their opposition to the O'Farrell Government's Draft Regional Land Use Plan. Marching alongside members of the CWA, who were protesting for the first time in their 90 year history, the group backed the NSW Farmers Association call for a reassessment of the Draft Regional Land Use Plan.
Marching behind some whip cracking kids, the crowd chanted the rally cry; 'Save our water, save our land, country and city, united we stand'. And it was exciting for members to be part of this movement for the preservation of our precious resources.
Farmers Association President Fiona Simpson encouraged the assembled crowd to make a written submission in addition to the personal one that they were making by being present at the rally.
Information about submissions can be found on their website (http://www.nswfarmers.org.au/)
Submissions close on May 3 so if you care about you land and water, please take a minute to let your feelings known.
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW has also compiled the following points which you may use in your submission:
Submission Guide:
Have your say on mining and coal seam gas expansion
Take action today to protect
water, wildlife and local communities from the impacts of mining and coal seam
gas development.
In the lead up to the state election,
the NSW Liberals and Nationals promised to protect ‘critical agricultural and
environmental assets’ from the impacts of mining and gas development.
They promised to introduce strategic
regional land use plans that would identify ‘sensitive areas’ that would be off
limits to mining and coal seam gas.
They promised to protect strategic
agricultural land and areas of high conservation value.
To date, they have comprehensively
failed to deliver on that promise.
The draft land use plans recently released
by the NSW Government do not place a single square inch of the state off limits
to mining and coal seam gas.
The draft land use plans fail to
provide certainty for local communities, and do not provide clear legal
protection for water, wildlife and natural areas.
Please take ten minutes to write a
personalised submission in response to the draft land use plans, setting out
your concerns about the impacts of mining and gas, and calling on government to
take real action to protect local communities and the environment.
Submissions are due by 5.00pm on
Thursday, 3 May.
You can send you submission by email
to srlup@planning.nsw.gov.au.
To download the draft regional land
use plans and aquifer interference policy, visit: www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/regionallanduse.
If possible, personalise your
submission with information about you and your local community.
Points that you may wish to make in
your submission:
·
I am deeply concerned
about the impacts of rapidly expanding mining and coal seam gas development on
our wildlife, water, farmland and local communities.
·
I strongly support
the protection of sensitive natural areas and strategic agricultural land, and
call on you to honour your election commitment to place these areas off limits
to mining and gas development.
·
The draft land use
plans for the Upper Hunter and New England North West do not reflect the
balance between mining, agriculture and conservation promised in your election
policy. I am concerned that these draft plans set a very poor precedent for
other regions across the state.
·
The draft plans fail
to deliver certainty for mine-affected communities, and do not provide
meaningful protection for wildlife and natural areas.
·
I am deeply concerned
about the lack of clear legal protection for areas of high conservation value. Mapping
the most important natural areas in the state, only to allow them to be
destroyed by mining, is totally unacceptable.
·
The mapping of high
conservation value areas in the draft plans is overly conservative, and fails
to identify many important terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
·
I urge you to withdraw
the draft land use plans, and replace them with plans that:
o
clearly identify
sensitive areas that are off limits to mining and gas, including important
wildlife habitat, strategic farmland, drinking water catchments and urban
areas.
o
provide a clear legal
mechanism to guarantee protection of high conservation value lands, through
regulations or an environmental planning instrument.
o
apply to exploration
licence applications and renewals, recognising the very real impacts of
exploration activities on land, water and wildlife.
o
protect public lands,
including state conservation areas and state forests, from open cut mining and
coal seam gas development.
o
establish a one
kilometre buffer around rivers, national parks and nature reserves.
o
establish a five
kilometre buffer around residential areas, schools and nursing homes, to
protect local communities from health impacts and risk of industrial accidents.
o
properly manage
cumulative impacts of mining and gas development on the environment, water and
public health.
·
The draft aquifer
interference policy is entirely inadequate, and must be strengthened
substantially to provide real protection for our precious groundwater
resources.
·
I strongly support a
moratorium on CSG exploration and extraction, until such time as we have the
science, strategic planning and regulatory framework to guarantee protection of
water resources, public health and the environment.
April 30, 2012
RALLY TOMORROW!
Just a reminder about the important rally in Sydney tomorrow being organised by the NSW Farmers Association (http://www.nswfarmers.org.au/ourlandourwater). The RSWUA will be there from 11.30 am so please join us and look for our banner on corner of Elizabeth and Martin Place.
The rally has been organised in response to the severely inadequate draft Land Use Plan that has been released by the O'Farrell Government in New South Wales.
Submissions to the Plan are due by Weds 3rd. We urge all members and supporters to make a submission. Below is info from Lock the Gate which you can use, or use the template we sent you last Monday. Remember to add a sentence about our rich basalt soils and permanent water that need to be protected for future generations. Every little bit helps!
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April 19, 2012
CHEMICAL INFORMATION
It's scary to think that chemicals may find their way into our pristine water system but here is some information on those likely to be used in the drilling that is taking place on Mt
Vincent. These details are not given in the minutes of the Inglenook CCC meeting (see previous post). However we note that already there are five new chemicals being used, that were not discussed at the CCC meeting.
Vincent. These details are not given in the minutes of the Inglenook CCC meeting (see previous post). However we note that already there are five new chemicals being used, that were not discussed at the CCC meeting.
SOME NOTES ON DRILLING ADDITIVES FROM CCC MEETING 22 MARCH 2012
At the previous CCC meeting there had been a request to see the MSD (Material Safety Data) sheets for the chemicals used in the drilling mud. In response we were given a presentation by Jesse Percival (new geologist on Inglenook Project) and were told the MSD sheets are available on the Australian Mud Company Website at http://www.amcmud.com/msds.html and http://www.amcmud.com/asia-pacific-product-data-sheets.html
The main points of the presentation are below, with my comments/afterthoughts in italics
- Additives are put into the water to increase its viscosity (ie thickness). This allows it to “support” the hole so that the sides don’t collapse, and makes it easier to bring up the discarded material produced by the drilling.
- The mix of additives will vary according to what kind of strata they are encountering and what stage of the drilling they are at: ie just boring down or actually taking a core sample.
- There was a lot of consultation with Australian Mud Co to get the best additives, in particular trying to use naturally occurring substances and at a high dilution rate ie very low amount, generally less that 1%. However if it is a high volume of drilling mud used, it may still be a significant amount of the additive that is on site, and may enter the environment. We asked several times for an indication of the kind of volume/amount of additive that might be use, but were not given a figure, not even an indicative range.
- The MSD sheets will be made available to the landholder when drilling takes place.
- We were told the MSD sheets show dilution rates and give information on proper handling. I have checked the sheets and they do not seem to give the dilution rates on the MSD sheet, so you have to go to the second website which is a product guide.
Below is the list of additives we were given, with some of the dilution rates. Many of these are used in food products. There may be changes to this list, for example if a better product becomes available. Forgot to ask what the mechanism would be for notification of any changes/additions to this list.
AMC-PAC-R at 0.02%
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CR-650 at 0.05%
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Aus Gel
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BIO VIS Xtra
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XAN BORE at 0.2%
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Soda Ash at 0.025%
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EP Bit Lube at 0.8-1%
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WELL CLEAN at 0.5%
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Pool grade Chlorine
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BIOCIDE at 0.5%
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AMC-PAC-R: Produced from cellulose, the most abundant polymer in nature and a major component in wood and cotton; •Increases water viscosity; •Reduces water loss; •Dilution rate is typically 0.2%
BIO VIS Xtra: Produced from Guargum, a naturally occurring material and commonly used as a filler in food and weight loss products; •Increases water viscosity; •Dilution rate is 0.2%
EP Bit Lube at 0.8-1%: A blend of biodegradable vegetable oils and emulsifiers; •Improved penetration rates and extends life of the diamond drill bit; •Contains preservatives to extend shelf life. Similar preservatives are used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications; •Dilution is typically 0.8-1%
Pool grade Chlorine: Used to clean up the drill hole and removes wall cake that has formed;
•Used in a variety of applications including swimming pool disinfection and potable water treatment; •Used in correct concentrations it does not pose an environmental hazard.
CR-650: •Improves core recovery and provides lubrication; •Contains anionic polyacrylamide which is widely used within the agricultural industry as a soil stabiliser;
•Dilution is 0.05%
XAN BORE: Maximises cuttings transport and hole cleaning; •Contains Xanthan Gum which is derived from a natural substance;•Xanthan Gum is typically found in a variety of common food including commercial salad dressings and ice cream; •Dilution rate is 0.2%
WELL CLEAN: Assists in the clean up of the drill hole; •Also widely used in the food industry; •Dilution rate is typically 0.5%
BIOCIDE: Used for the prevention of bacteria build up in drilling fluids; •Dilution rate is typically 0.5%
Aus Gel: This product is used for hole cleaning, specific applications where permeable sections or poorly consolidated caving formations can be troublesome; •Contains bentonite clay which is a naturally occurring mineral and poses no harm to the environment; •Bentonite has a diverse range of applications including cosmetics, toothpaste, beer and wine.
Soda Ash: Sodium Carbonate; •Used to adjust pH to increase effectiveness of muds; •Used in potable water treatment and used in cleaning products; •Dilution is 0.025%
We were assured that the drilling additives used are generally no different to those used in drilling for water bores for stock and domestic use; that drilling additives are selected according to the drilling conditions, and generally only used when poorly consolidated formations are encountered; and that all waste will be removed from site and appropriately disposed of by a licensed contractor.
Note: At the first drilling site last week, five chemicals different to those given at the CCC presentation were seen. These chemicals are AMC Universal, Aus plug, Aus-cet Xtra, Water Conditioner, and Gypset 15.
MINUTES OF INGLENOOK CCC
The Inglenook Community Consultative Committee met last month to discuss developments with Centennial Coal's exploration of the Running Stream/Mt. Vincent area.
Below are the draft minutes. We note that already there are five new chemicals being used that were not discussed at the meeting. This raises questions about the credibility of Centennial's community consultation process.
Draft Minutes of Inglenook Exploration Project Community Consultative Committee Meeting
Date and time: Thursday 22/03/2012, 10:00am
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Location: Charbon Green Meeting Room, Charbon Coal Mine Present
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Margaret MacDonald-Hill (MMH)
Julie Moloney (JM)
Sarah Jardine (SJ)
Cr John Webb (JW)
Esme Martens (EM)
Jolieske Lips (JL) Neva Lilley (NL) Beau Preston (BP) John Sandona (JS)
Jesse Percival (JP)
Thomas Dubos (TD)
John Brunton (JB)
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Chair
Office of Resources & Energy, Mineral Resources
Office of Resources & Energy, Mineral Resources
Midwestern Regional Council (MWRC)
Inglenook Community Representative
Running Stream Water Users Association &Inglenook Community Representative
Inglenook Community Representative
Centennial Coal
Centennial Coal
Centennial Coal
Centennial Coal
Centennial Coal
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Apologies
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Cr Ray Thomson (RT)
Mitchell Clapham (MC)
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Lithgow City Council
Inglenook Community Representative
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Welcome and Introduction
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The Chair welcomed all attendees to the fifthInglenook CCC meeting and introduced Jesse Percival, Environment and Community Coordinator-Projects and Thomas Dubos, Project Geologist, Inglenook Project, from Centennial Coal and Sarah Jardine from Office of Resources & Energy.
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Declarations of Interest
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MMH noted her position as Independent Chair appointed by the Minister for Energy & Resources. She is also a Member of the Mine Subsidence Board & Ministers’ Arbitration Panel.
JL as owner of mineral rights in relation to the Inglenook EL
NL’s family as owners of mineral rights in relation to the Inglenook EL.
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Confirmation of previous minutes
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The minutes were confirmed as a true record by NL and seconded by JM.
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Business arising
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The Chair noted the last presentation was sent with the previous meeting minutes.
The Chair informed the committee that Roff O’Shea is the Department of Premier & Cabinet's Regional Coordinator for the area which includes the Inglenook Project Area in response to an enquiry made about the role by MC at the third CCC meeting.
BP confirmed that all meeting minutes and presentations will be placed on the Centennial Coal website by a date to be confirmed as the website is currently being redesigned.
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Presentation by Jesse Percival
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JP provided a presentation on drilling additives which could be used on the Inglenook Project.. The Chair requested a copy of the presentation for CCC members. A discussion was held by Committee members on drilling additives and their possible effects at Inglenook, including the
concentration rate of chlorine to be used. Centennial Coal will provide the concentration rate.
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General Business
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A description of the Drill Rig to be used at Inglenook.
JS advised it is a similar rig to the one used by Interdrill. An above ground sump system is to be installed instead of the Pit Bull installation for water recirculation employed by Interdrill.
JL asked about the possibility of an open day to come and see the new rig working.
Centennial Inglenook envisages an open day would occur sometime in May with a date to be confirmed.
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Australian Mining - the real story
April 18, 2012
Locals Concerned as Drilling Commences on Mountain
Exploratory drilling has now begun on Mount Vincent and fears are that damage will be done to our irreplaceable aquifer.
One extremely concerned local and RSWUA member, affected by the constant noise which begins at 7.30am and continues all day, 6 days a week, went to check out the ‘Macquarie Drilling’ for CC drill rig.
The gate to the drill site was open and she was able to walk right in and take some photos. One of the drill team came over, was friendly and tried to answer some of her questions, telling her the chemicals that she saw on site were all biodegradable ‘muds’.
Having viewed the photographs we are concerned that the quantity and type of chemicals being used in the drilling process may pollute the aquifer waters, especially since some are different to those on the list presented to the Community Consultation Committee just two weeks earlier (see list below). The Committee has written to Centennial Coal asking them to explain why they did not inform the CCC about the additional chemicals. We are also investigating the various chemicals to check for possible health implications as many locals drink the water directly from the springs on the mountain and have never experienced any problems.
Since the visit, proper OH&S controls have been put in place on the drill site with a lock on the gate and ‘NO ENTRY’ signs up around the fence.
But there is a bigger issue being raised by the current drilling on the mountain and that is of compensation. While there is some compensation for those who have a drill hole on their property, there is no compensation for neighbours, whose normally quiet lifestyles are affected by the constant noise levels which will continue for months. Furthermore, how could Centennial ever compensate for the possible loss and pollution of water of our pristine spring water?
List of drilling muds presented to the CCC on 22 March 2012
AMC PAC-R
•BIO-VIS Xtra
•EP Bit Lube
•Pool-grade Chlorine
•CR-650
•Soda Ash
•XAN Bore
•Well Clean
•Biocide
•Aus-Gel
Other chemicals noted on the drill site
AMC Universal
Aus-cet Xtra
Water Conditioner
Aus plug
Gypset 15
April 11, 2012
Australian Farmers' Responses to Coal Seam Gas Extraction Operations
The School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Science in Armidale is conducting a survey on responses by farmers to the coal seam gas industry. While CSG isn't a present threat in our area, many of us are well informed about the issue and may wish to participate in the survey nontheless. We certainly know many farmers in the surrounding region who are being affected by it such as our friends in Bylong and Merriwa.
So if you're interested in contributing your thoughts on the matter, click here to read more about the survey:
http://unebcss.us2.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6FmsRMMqE9SVMQk
April 2, 2012
Ilford Legends Go the Distance
Owners of the iconic 1868 Ilford House, the pair face an uncertain future if the Inglenook Project goes ahead. With exploration drilling already taking place on nearby Mt. Vincent, they felt compelled to join the one hundred or so other landowners demonstrating their opposition to plans being laid down for Central NSW by miners at the $3,200 per head conference at the Resort.
"I was initially skeptical about going to the rally. Was this going to do any good?" said Sheila, 88; " But yes, it really was worthwhile. I think it made a difference."
Plans are now afoot for the seven combined organising action groups to make their presence felt at the NSW Farmers Association rally outside Parliament House, Sydney on May 1. Buses will be organised so if you'd like to join in and show your opposition to the continuing destruction of our agricultural lands and water resources, please drop us a line. The campaign is called 'Our Land, Our Water' and you can find out more about it here:
http://www.nswfarmers.org.au/ourlandourwater/
March 27, 2012
‘Clearing out the country: coal before communities, profits before people’
For those of you who missed Sharyn Munro's talk last week, here is the transcript:
http://www.craigshaw.com.au/mudgeemining/pdf/talk.pdf
March 26, 2012
Sharyn Munro's Blog
Mudgee: the wHole mining story
Last week a swag of mining bigwigs paid a few thousand dollars each to gather at the Parklands Resort just outside Mudgee and no doubt discuss the many opportunities for them in the region.
Unfortunately, with the three coal mines already operating just 50kms north of their town – Ulan, Moolarben and Wilpinjong– and their planned expansions, plus the proposals for Cobbora, Bylong and Running Stream, a lot of locals take a rather different view on their prospects under coal — or silver, as at Lue, or CSG or whatever else can make a few billion for big business.
So the concerned community groups got together for the first time and held their own ‘people’s conference’ for free. Mid-Western Community Action Network, in conjunction with Bylong Valley Protection Alliance, NSW Nature Conservation Council, Lue Action Group, Merriwa Health Environment Group, Rylstone District Environment Society, Running Stream Water Users Association, and Mudgee District Environment Group, organised a great two-day event.
David Clarke from NSW Farmers is pictured above, speaking from the posh truck stage, watched by M.C. Nell Schofield from Running Stream. (Photo from the Mudgee Mining the wHole story website)
Buses lent and driven by Susan Symons and Grayson Tuck-Lee, themselves severely impacted by the Moolarben mine, took about 100 people to a rally opposite the Resort.
Speakers summed up the issues from the back of a truck; passing traffic stared, some tooted support; only one driver yelled abuse.
It was a scattered trail, as some walkers were aged and some frail, a few walking with the aid of a stick — and with difficulty.
Several pushed toddlers in strollers — the generation who will bear the brunt of what is happening here long after the bigwigs have nicked off with the loot.Some folk were from the almost extinct villages of Ulan and Wollar — cleared out by coal. Others had come from beyond the shire to lend support; those of us from the coal-trashed Hunter could only hope Mudgee does not go the same way.
Afternoon sessions at Lawson Park were illuminating, as a wide range of visiting and local speakers offered information and experiences and discussed various impacts, many already evident, from health to housing, business, wineries, tourism and farming. The day ended with a full-house dinner talk by me, called ‘Clearing out the country’, the title of the chapter about this area in my new book.
It was appropriate that I spoke there first about the book, Rich Land, Waste Land — how coal is killing Australia as the ‘Rich Land’ is embodied on the cover by my photo of the Andrews family at their Tarwyn Park property at Bylong — a spectacularly inappropriate place to mine!
Next day a full busload went on the Magical Misery tour to see current and possible future impacted areas. I’d had to leave, but then I’ve done my own misery tour for the book.
I feel that this Mudgee event foreshadows many such combinings of forces, as people power is increasingly seen as the only tool left to us, because, as I said in my talk, ‘reason and right and forward thinking have been taken out of the process’ by government.
March 12, 2012
DINNER WITH SHARYN MUNRO
Tickets are selling fast to our dinner with author Sharyn Munro on Tuesday 20th March at Roth's Wine Bar in Market St. Mudgee. If you want to hear the latest from one of the district's most prolific writers and bloggers, grab a ticket now.
For more details:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20231859/MEDIA%20RELEASE%20(Mudgee%20Mining%20-%20the%20wHole%20Story)%20-%20'Dinner%20with%20Sharyn'%20proving%20a%20popular%20choice.pdf
For more details:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20231859/MEDIA%20RELEASE%20(Mudgee%20Mining%20-%20the%20wHole%20Story)%20-%20'Dinner%20with%20Sharyn'%20proving%20a%20popular%20choice.pdf
March 9, 2012
'BRIDAL REGISTER' / WISH LIST
'BRIDAL REGISTER' / WISH LIST
Help make our event the best it can possibly be by
Help make our event the best it can possibly be by
supporting one or more of the items on our register
We all know how a bridal register works: the couple-to-be make a wish list of things they'd like and guests can choose something appropriate from the list to purchase as their gift.
Well, we thought it would be a good idea to set up our own 'Bridal Register' for our “people’s conference” and rally!
It works like this:
1. We list a series of specific items and their cost.
2. You choose something from our list that you’d like to support, and for how much (it
can be the whole amount or just part of the amount, a lot or just a little - it ALL
helps!)
3. You send us an email, saying how much you’re pledging - and for what item(s)
4. We send you back an email with information on how to get the money to us
(preferably by electronic transfer direct to our bank account, but a cheque/money
order will also work)
5. We acknowledge your contribution on the website (or you can remain anonymous if
you wish).
you wish).
Of course, all contributions will be receipted. Please note, however, that contributions are
NOT tax deductible.
See here for a selection of the items large and small you can contribute towards.
Thanks in advance for helping make “Mudgee Mining: the wHole Story” the great success it
deserves to be!
If you have any questions or need help with anything, please email:
info@mudgeeminingthewholestory.org.au
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