Newsletter
Latest CCAG Newsletter here.
Petition
Sign our online Petition here.
|
|
Tony Abbott makes Position Crystal Clear |
 |
 |
 |
|
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 20:49 |
On his way to visit Liverpool Plains farmer Cam McKellar, whose farm is "a world leader when it comes to carbon capture in soil", Tony Abbott MP had this to say again st mining on the Liverpool Plains:
"Okay, well plainly the big issue as Senator Williams has just alluded to is the prospect or the threat, if you like, of mining in some of Australia’s best agricultural land. Now obviously we support the mining industry as we support the agricultural industry. It’s important that we have a strong agricultural sector just as it’s important that we have a strong mining sector. The message I am getting loud and clear from locals is that they don’t want to destroy this agricultural breadbasket with mining and the position that the Coalition parties have adopted in the federal parliament is that there is no way there should be any mining in this very important agricultural region until such time as a very, very thorough water study is done and we can be absolutely crystal clear that mining can take place without damaging the agricultural prospects of this region."
We thank Mr Abbott, Federal Liberals and Nationals for their support. (Full interview) |
|
|
NSW Farmers Rally for Property Rights |
|
|
|
|
Sunday, 24 January 2010 17:04 |
 A large contingent of farmers and other land owners will be rallying in Canberra on 2nd February in support of property rights which are being systematically dismantled by the State and Federal governments.
Please go along if you can - details of transport arranged for the Liverpool Plains region can be found here. For more details see the NSW Farmers website http://www.nswfarmers.org.au/ . |
|
Hunter Valley Magic Millions Under Threat |
|
|
|
|
Sunday, 24 January 2010 08:39 |
 The Thoroughbred Breeders of The Hunter Valley have taken up the battle against the ever-encroaching, never-enough, land-and-water-grab industry that is coal mining as currently practiced in NSW.
During 2010 and beyond, they will be educating the NSW government about the significant contribution the race horse industry makes to the NSW economy. For example, employing 65,000 people and that regional areas generate over 40% of the industry's $5 billion contribution to Australian GDP.
This industry is also now under threat from over-expansion of mining. We offer our support. For more details see here or their website: http://www.htba.com.au/protectourindustries . |
|
Senator Joyce supports Prime Ag again, Libs agree |
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 14:17 |
 "Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce said his party would not back away from its opposition to creating carbon forest sinks through tree planting on prime agricultural land.
"People are very touchy about removing prime agricultural land, whether for mining or carbon sink forests or anything else, as you can't replace it," Senator Joyce said.
"Carbon sink forests aren't just an issue for people in the country. They're an issue for people in Sydney. If you want to start planting trees everywhere they grow fruit, and everywhere they grow vegetables, and where you get the predominant inflow of affordable food into your life, well, you know what's going to happen to your cost of living."
Senator Joyce said farmers supported carbon sequestration.
"We've been doing it for years; it's called no-till farming," he said."
Quoted from The Australian 20/01/10. Full story here. |
|
Champion Crops from the Liverpool Plains - again |
|
|
|
|
Friday, 15 January 2010 18:36 |
Meg and Colin Campbell of "Rockgedgiel", Bundella were awarded first place in the NSW 2009 Dryland Wheat Competition with a wheat yield of 5.95 tonnes to the hectare and Julie & Michael Prowse of Gwendalan, "Blackville" first place in the durum wheat section.
The competition organisers acknowledged that most of the wheat champions had been from Liverpool Plains over the years, underlining the area's tremendous, sustained fertility even without the support of irrigation. Commenting on the area, the government agronomist and competition Judge, Paul Parker, said "anybody who would want to dig this country up for mining needs to have their heads read".
CCAG extends its congratulations to the winners and like many in the country and city, agrees wholeheartedly with Mr Parker's sentiments!
|
|
Coal Health Costs Confirmed |
|
|
|
|
Sunday, 13 December 2009 13:11 |
New research out of the United States confirms that coal cost one heavily coal mining reliant US State $115 million dollars more in services and programs each year than it contributes in terms of taxes and employment.
The latest report of the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts Coal Health Compensation Scheme in the UK shows that the cost of compensation to ex-miners for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other debilitating diseases will be in excess of 4.1 BILLION pounds. Despite evidence to the contrary, the Department responsible underestimated the number of cases, and hence the cost to tax payers, by more than 300%.
The data is coming in thick and fast now as to how much this dirty industry COSTS every country it is in and how long the health and social costs continue after mining stops. We can only presume our new 'economy conscious' Premier, recently spruiking a possible return to coal-fired power stations, can not yet have been made aware of the COSTS to NSW residents' health, and the State of such an economically-damaging decision. |
|
Dr van Steenis Dishes the Dirt on Dust! |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 08 December 2009 11:31 |
|
 As expected, this international Coal Pollution Expert's visit to Caroona did not disappoint.
Dr van Steenis calmly explained the threat to health caused by small particle dusts generated by coal mining, processing, transport and coal-fired power plants. It's a real, demonstrable threat to our community's health backed by an increasing number of peer-reviewed studies and the health statistics coming out of The Hunter. The danger particles are those smaller than 2.5 microns of which the mining process produces billions. These tiny particles get into the lungs and with repeated exposure lead to chronic lung disease and lung cancer. We now know why chronic lung problems (eg. chronic pulmonary obstructive disease COPD) are endemic in the Hunter Valley. The science shows that babies and children are affected the most and we know that the NSW government has only just started to collect the data on this particle size, preferring in the past, despite the mounting evidence, to concentrate on the less-hazardous 10 micron sizes. Armed with the facts, the science and the indisputable evidence that coal costs our community, it is clear that health resources can never meet the growing casualties of coal-based pollution, no matter how much money is poured by these polluting businesses into healthcare. Lung problems are just the tip of the dirty coal-health iceberg that Dr van Steenis revealed. Coal production adds to NSW revenue - but now the spotlight will be focused on how much it COSTS too. Stayed tuned....... |
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 4 of 18 |
|
Mine Field
3rd Sept Water Study process 20th June Court ruling released 1st June Local Council promotes mining 20st May Land Access Bill passed. 1st April BHP to appeal ruling. No joke! 24th Mar Blockade lifted. Thank you letter to all participants. 18th Mar Coalition says it intends to protect MDB floodplains and support Tony Windsor's Amendment to the Water Act.
10th Mar NSW Mining Council 'sky is falling' after CCAG court win. CCAG responds.
2nd Mar Coal V's Ag in Hunter Valley - mp3 audio debate here. 15th Feb CCAG in Mudgee visit - more water under threat. 3rd Feb Sir Lunchalot finally to visit Caroona in March. Expects silver service.....Details TBA. 14th Jan BHP seeking legal costs reimbursement after judgement handdown 6th Jan Court judgment on mining licence validity, ABC, SMH. 10th Dec Dr Van Stennis talks on coal particle pollution. 25th Nov Study consultants appointed. 24th Nov RiversSOS in landmark case with Planning to protect NSW water supplies 8th Nov Taste of the Plains @ Caroona 29th Oct Water study funding failure confirmed. 17th Oct Water study funding crisis? 1st Oct. Alan Jones talks to CCAG's spokesman Tim Duddy. 28th Sept Gunnedah- Senate hearings 18th Sept. Senate Enquiry into Food Production in Australia transcript.
17th Sept. Shenhua to snub Senate? 20th August. Senate enquiry calls for submissions 4th August. Local miner fined in court.
CCAG commences court actions. 20th July. ABC 4 Corners - 'The Good Earth' & CCAG celebrates community blockade 1st anniversary. 16th July. Gunnedah Mining Warden again favours BHP in latest case. July. Crikey Report: CSIRO scientists spruiking for the coal industry?. Seen at the blockade last week, Senators Joyce and Williams, MP Mark Coulton and various media crews. 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 here21st May. Mining Warden 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
Farmer takes fight to miner - SMH
 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.
Where was the Blockade?
|
