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Written by rod
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Tuesday, 04 May 2010 18:29 |
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In med ia reports this week, the largest coal producer in the world, Shenhua Energy, is so concerned about infrastructure in NSW that it is considering building coal-fired power stations near its planned mining operation in the Gunnedah basin and burning the coal on site. Also, the senior vice-president of Shenhua Energy, the parent company of Shenhua Watermark, says there will be mining "under the river" on the Liverpool Plains. So just how will these dovetail into Penny Wongs 'Water for the Future' MDB plan for a 'strong and vibrant future for agriculture', or Minister Macdonalds 'no mining under the floodplain' guarantee? Chinese Whispers
Update: Shenhua regrets a translation error with respect to mining under rivers. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 06 May 2010 09:08 |
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Sneaky attempt to change law stopped! |
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Written by rod
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Thursday, 22 April 2010 07:54 |
Reason, sanity and the democratic process prevailed in the Legislative Council and prevented the Minister for Mineral Resources from fast tracking an amendment to the Mining Act which would overturn the Supreme Court ruling on access agreements. While the Labor party has the numbers to pass legislation in the Legislative Assembly, it has been postponed to the 11th May for debate in the Legislative Council.
It is best summed up by Mr Andrew Stoner in his address to the Legislative Assembly.
‘Given our concerns about the appalling removal of the rights of people concerned with Caroona and about the Government's lack of transparency in not allowing us to properly examine this legislation, we are left with no choice but to oppose the bill today. In the Legislative Council the Opposition will ask that the bill be adjourned ………. to allow us the opportunity for proper scrutiny of the bill and consultation with the community. It will also enable us to thoroughly examine the bill—which, as I have said, just hit the decks here 15 or 20 minutes ago—so that we can consider what it does and does not do. Simply put, the Government cannot be trusted given its past form.’
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Last Updated on Friday, 23 April 2010 19:06 |
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QLD Gov Begins to Protect Water from CSG Menace |
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Written by Pauline
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Tuesday, 20 April 2010 12:50 |
Finally recognising concerns over Coal Seam Gas extraction heavily impacting water supplies, the QLD government has announced new regulatory trigger levels which will stop CSG producers from draining aquifers with impunity (as has happened in other parts of the world).
The new trigger thresholds will be a 5m drop for consolidated aquifers such as sandstone, a 2m drop for shallow alluvial aquifers and 0.2m drop for springs. When trigger thresholds are exceeded, the CSG operator will have to investigate and report to the bore owner and QLD Water Commission.
Whilst the devil is likely to be in the detail, it is at least a start in protecting precious water supplies and QLD is to be congratulated for pioneering sustainable development.
We ask what is the NSW government doing in this regard?
Why is it still dragging its feet over Water Study funding?
Where is are the NSW Ministers for Mines and Water on these important issues?
Just who is responsible for assessing cumulative impacts of CSG and mining projects on water supplies in NSW?
QLD is clearly leading the way....but in the words of the old tourism ad: "NSW government - where the b****y hell are you?" |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 April 2010 17:55 |
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Don't like the Supreme Court's decision? Just change the Law. |
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Written by Pauline
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Tuesday, 20 April 2010 17:50 |
We've just heard that the government is due to introduce the Mining and Petroleum Legislation Amendment (Land Access) Bill 2010 in the NSW Legislative Assembly thursday (22nd April).
This clearly shows Minister Macdonald has no regard for the law or the Supreme Court of this State.
The court uncovered a regime in NSW where miners have for years been allowed to enter private land, flout the law and take short cuts with the environment and landholders rights. Now that they’ve been caught out, the government’s reaction isn’t to uphold the law but instead to totally rewrite it to benefit the powerful mining lobby.
The Minister’s changes would legalise the very behaviour from miners which the NSW Supreme Court found not only threatened the environment but undermines the rights of landholders, financial institutions and many other parties.
The message from Minister Macdonald is clear - mining is king in NSW and let nothing stand in its way including the law. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 April 2010 09:25 |
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Hunter's Dark Underbelly of Disease Exposed |
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Written by Pauline
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Tuesday, 13 April 2010 09:07 |
ABC's 4 Corners brought home to Australia this week the high cost Hunter families are paying for the NSW's government's addiction to coal revenues.
Respiratory problems are rife, cancer clusters coming to light and people advised to move out of the area to save their and their children's health. Calls for an independent health enquiry and more 2.5PM dust monitors have been arrogantly dismissed by NSW's Health Minister. Yet again the cumulative health and environmental impacts of massive mining expansion have slipped through the regulatory cracks because dust containing toxic metals and other chronic disease initiators is not mine specific.
What price people's health? What happens when the Hunter Health bill outstrips the coal royalties? And is this happening already? |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 April 2010 09:12 |
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