In a speech to State parliament last week, MP for the Upper Hunter, George Souris, called the Planning Department's new excision of underground water supplies, from Metropolitan Colliery's long-walling plan, a precedent that should now be used to protect the valuable aquifers under the Liverpool Plains Prime Agricultural Land.
Mr Souris urged the Planning Minister to apply the exclusion criterion "where unique agricultural and environmental benefits are so great that coal mining should never be allowed to occur". Read the full Hansard statement here.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 02 July 2009 )
Chinese Take Away
The Foreign Investment Review Board are currently assessing applications by Chinese state-owned miner Shenhua to be allowed to purchase 195 sq km of the Breeza Plain for their open cut coal mine. Is this really in Australia's best interests?
By comparison, China has very restrictive rules regarding foreign investment in its own mining sector. Even BHP and Rio have failed make inroads into the country despite sustained exploration. Mining licences are not guaranteed after exploration. Clearly the Chinese wish to retain better strategic control of their mineral deposits.
If you wish to raise your concerns about this destructive intention for prime agricultural land, contact Patrick Colmer of FIRB:
Macdonald stimulates his mates?
As eloquently pointed out by David Walker, Chairman of Liverpool Plains Land Management Committee today, Minister Macdonald has been able to find $20 million to prop up the “viability of some regional coal mines”, but is unable, or unwilling, to as promptly kick the tin for the region’s Independent Catchment-Wide Water Study.
The Minister’s behaviour is, once again, disappointing and gives weight to increasingly loud suggestions of bias. This important Study which, by comparison to whining mining handouts, has been through exhaustive consultation, seeks to protect the viability of clean water supplies and food production on the Liverpool Plains.
Further this Study is national in its impact. We produce food for the people of Australia, a product suite that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in retail and the health of our Nation as consumers. Our well-managed catchment also contributes to the Murray Darling Basin and the livelihoods of hundreds of communities, farmers and businesses down stream.
This fact is not lost on the Federal Minister for Water, Senator Wong, who has already put the Federal government’s money where her mouth is. We appreciate her unswerving and proactive support.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 June 2009 )
Community Consultative Committee put on notice
We are becoming thoroughly disillusioned with this committee chaired by Garry West. In its charter, this CCC states BHP must “provide the committee with factual and accurate information about the project and its likely environmental impact, including progress of work, monitoring results and any non compliance”.
After repeated requests, here are just some of questions we want written answers to, written so that there can be no confusion or doubt as to what has been said.
1. At what stage is the licence requirement to investigate the potential of a regional independent power plant? 2. Where are the early options for power line routes for bringing high voltage power to the target area? 3. Will BHP make a commitment that it will not mine under the black soil plains? A simple YES or NO 4. Will BHP make a commitment that it will not open cut anywhere in EL6505? A simple YES or NO 5. Will BHP make a commitment that it will not propose a mine plan until the results of the independent water study are released? A simple YES or NO
We will publish the answers. A full list of questions asked are here. If you have any more you’d like asked on your behalf please contact CCAG.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 16 June 2009 )
Water Study Welcomed As Farmers Rally Outside NSW Parliament To Protect Prime Farmland
After a three year battle, the Caroona community has welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement of an independent water study of the Namoi catchment to ensure the risks to the Liverpool Plains aquifer systems are fully understood prior to any mining operations being approved.
The decision came as more than 200 farmers rallied outside the NSW Parliament in support of a Greens amendment to the Mining Act 1992 to prevent any mining or exploration anywhere in areas designated as prime agricultural lands. Despite Labor's pathetic attempts to delay debate on the Bill, debate ensued in the afternoon session with packed public galleries of farmers in the Upper House.
After fiery debate, with the Coalition and several independents eloquently supporting the Greens quoting from farmers' emails, compared to improbable statements and politicking by a clearly rattled Minister Macdonald, this amendment to the Mining Act was defeated 20-19. The farmers were let down by the Shooters Party and Fred Nile, an unholy combination with thirty farmers leaving the gallery in disgust during Rev. Nile's speech.
It is obvious now that the Labor government no longer has a clear mandate for its mining policies on prime agricultural lands. We will keep fighting until such an amendment is passed ensuring this country's clean food and water supplies are protected from any inappropriate or contaminating development.
Last Updated ( Friday, 05 June 2009 )
Truth Will Out
A senior BHP Billiton executive has revealed that despite the company's repeated public assurances that it has no intention of mining underneath the precious black soils and aquifers on the Liverpool Plains, it may change that position in the future.
The cat is out of the bag, as the community always suspected. Read an excerpt of the interview with ABC New England's Kelly Fuller here.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 30 May 2009 )
Minister Macdonald needs to substantiate figures
Interviewed recently Ian Macdonald, Minister for Primary Industries and Mineral Resources (amongst others) cited 3000 jobs from mining would be generated in the Caroona area. We ask him to substantiate these figures. We ask him how many agricultural jobs and tiers of agro-business will be lost as a result of farmers and their families leaving. With mines closing all over Australia, qualified miners being thrown out of work with little notice and places like mine-filled Muswellbrook suffering one of the highest rates of youth unemployment in the country, we wonder just where does he get his figures from?
Last Updated ( Saturday, 30 May 2009 )
Court decision favours mining over farming
Farmers fighting to protect the Liverpool Plains from the impacts of large-scale mining say a decision by the Chief Mining Warden only confirms that NSW planning and approval processes overwhelmingly favour mining over the environment.
BHP Billiton were granted access to drill despite four land holders raising serious concerns about the environmental risks of BHP's operations.
Read more about this David and Goliath battle here.
Liberal leader Senator Nick Minchin is to visit blockade early July. State Government knew about Power Station arsenic pollution for 2 years and did nix. Seen at the blockade this week, Senators Joyce and Williams, MP Mark Coulton and various media crews. In 19 - 20 vote, NSW Parliament voted down CCAG supported Land Protection Bill. Hansard.
Caroona residents, farmers and CCAG to demonstrate outside Parliament to support bill. NSW Farmers give support to bill.
Mine-Field
24th June. Access arrangements decision to be taken to the Court of Appeal, with continuing AFFF support.
17th June. Senator questions Wong about exploration pollution. Nationals put motion in Senate supporting prime agricultural land. Read a personal analysis of this motion here. 4th June. NSW Greens new bill to safeguard Prime Ag Land and Water to be debated. Read all about it and CCAG in Namoi Valley Independent coverage here and here.
28th May. Farmers and supporters considering further legal options.Macdonald 'conflicted' - Gunnedah Basin community appeals to Premier Rees. ABC report here.
The Blockade is now 11 months old, with over 3000 day attendees registered.
21st May. Mining Warden full decision , as revealed to a packed Gunnedah Courthouse.
20th May. Senators visit Blockade and later hear submissions in Gunnedah.
18th May. Read CCAG's comments on the Water Study recommendations now under review by Minister MacDonald.
13th May. 'Landholders Dispute Information' in Quirindi Advocate. More of serial polluter BHP's poor practice revealed. 28th April. Final submissions were heard at the Gunnedah Mining Warden Court. Fifty CCAG supporters were in attendance. A decision is expected before end of May. Gunnedah Mining Warden Court: transcripts of each day are available here Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5
In maybe the final Mining Warden court hearings before being superseded by Land and Environment court, in Gunnedah earlier in April, BHP and their legal representatives confronted landholders, for access to their land .Santos has ramped up its seismic testing and its PR, inviting selected locals on a 'no photography' tour of its drilling rig at Caroona.
The State Government commissioned consulting firm 'road tested' proposed water study Terms of Reference in meetings mid March in Tamworth, Gunnedah and Narrabri. The document was enthusiastically critiqued by community participants for its lack of balance, its time and new data collection constraints, its avoidance of risk management and its ultimate irrelevance to Government policy.
In the NSW parliament Minister MacDonald responded robustly to recent events.
Did you know? Volunteer community members staff the blockade each day.....Food donations include cakes, assorted fruit, muffins and biscuits .... Blockaders swap life stories .... The mailman calls in twice a week ... The blockade site is now on the Grey Nomad tour lists ... .The blockade has received visitors from Denmark, Germany, Canada, Italy and N.Z. so far .... And the Oldest blockade picketer to date is 95; the Youngest just 4 months.
Tips and Rumours
Werris Creek mines are expanding, proposing a holding dam of 370ML and applying for an 'acquifier interference licence', 2 years after the last burst dam.
The yellow triangle *No Mines* signs have indeed become a collectors item. At least to edms, the BHP sub-contractor, whose staff have been spotted souveniring them.
Shenhua update - sales of 4 properties have been delayed pending Foreign Investment Review Board signoff.
In spite of carefully worded PR statements, the location of the proposed BHP thermal coal power station still appears to be right in the middle of Caroona village, on the Mooki River.
Media reports: SMH, Fin Review, Tamworth Leader, ABC radio & news. Draper. PrimeTV
In maybe the final Mining Warden court hearings before being superseded by Land and Environment court, in Gunnedah earlier in April, BHP and their legal representatives confronted landholders, for access to their land .Santos has ramped up its seismic testing and its PR, inviting selected locals on a 'no photography' tour of its drilling rig at Caroona. 
By comparison, China has very restrictive rules regarding foreign investment in its own mining sector. Even BHP and Rio have failed make inroads into the country despite sustained exploration. Mining licences are not guaranteed after exploration. Clearly the Chinese wish to retain better strategic control of their mineral deposits.
re becoming thoroughly disillusioned with this committee chaired by Garry West. In its charter, this CCC states BHP must “provide the committee with factual and accurate information about the project and its likely environmental impact, including progress of work, monitoring results and any non compliance”.
sition in the future. 
gly favour mining over the environment. 
