Caroona Coal Action Group

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Media Snippets

OZ -Chinese pay top $ for farms
ABC- Selling the farm
SMH - Mine air pollution
SMH - Gas delayed. New EIS.
Local coal mine set to expand.
Don't like Super tax? Sell mines!
Landline - Qld CSG 9/5/10
ABC Stateline - criticism of Mining Land Bill amendment
ABC -Mine Bill 'lawyers feast'
SMH. 'Coal cold comfort' 17/3/10
SBS TV food series reviews our local food issues
Mining Council complains - ABC audio
Officials gagged over mine - SMH
Gas issues in Qld - SMH
Hope Town - ABC report on BHP exiting mine boom town.
Adams on coal mining.
Shenhua mine plan proceeding
ABC TV feature Liverpool Plains again
New GetUp anti coal TV ad.
Qld Farmers update Senate Food Enquiry.
Mining threat not over.
BHP studying proposed large Caroona underground mine
Mining Conference: Mining better than Ag, less damaging claim.
State Government knew about Power Station arsenic pollution for 2 years, did nix..
Macdonald: Plains to be mined.
Water study timetable?. Meeting.
Shenhua FIRB ruling washup.
SMH 23rd July mining editorial
Media reports on July NSW Parliamentary demonstration:
SMH, Fin Review, Tamworth Leader, ABC radio & news. Draper. PrimeTV
Macdonald: "Mining more important than farming"
SMH - Toxic waste in town water. GPs concerned.
SMH story 30th May on our coal & gas issues,with followup support letter.
Santos to resume seismic testing -ABC
Hidden costs of fossil-fuel power - SMH
Guy Pearse -Quarterly Essay "Quarry Vision"
Crikeys take on Big Coal V's Science
Gov'ment dirty coal failure - SMH
Mining investment to be slashed -SMH
CCAG supports Gloucester struggle.
Gloucester residents mining rally.
World Water bankruptcy: Davos Report -SMH
PR spin- How miners hides bad news
Big coal mine labour sackings -Courier Mail
Nats choose miners over food producers
Greens support Windsor's water study Senate amendment
Mines and Communities: BHP Billiton accused of half-truths and evasions.
Daily Telegraph report on childrens toxic drinking water
adverse effects of mining - a Qld perspective
The Herald reports on coal mines plans to dump mine water into river

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Land and Water

Tuesday, 04 August 2009 21:37

NSW Farmers annual conference last week passed motions supporting food security as the agriculture versus mining debate dominated discussions. President Jock Laurie again called on Government to amend mining legislation to increase protection of Prime Ag Land. Delegates voted to lobby Government to halt awarding coal and gas licenses until the results of the independent catchment water study are known.

The conference was addressed by Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Bourke, Federal Opposition Leader Malcom Turnbull, NSW Premier Nathan Rees and Primary Industry Minister Ian Macdonald. Each referred to the Liverpool Plains in their initial speeches, and all subsequently took questions regarding mining issues in this region.

Locally, federal politicans Senators Nick Minchin and John Williams heard first hand the implications of mining the Plains at a CCAG and community meeting at Caroona Hall, and this week M.P.s Greg Hunt and Mark Coulton visited local affected farms to obtain a fuller understanding of the environmental consequences. Both keenly supported CCAG's call for a full and transparent water study.

Thank You, Australia

Sunday, 26 July 2009 17:09

4 Corners presented the facts, then you responded :-

‘As soon as I can come and join your protest, I plan to. I admire your moral courage!

‘There is absolutely no need for coal mining on the Liverpool Plains whatsoever’

‘Many of us over here in the West are right behind you!’

'I immediately asked all my friends on facebook to join and if there is anything else I can do to help, please let me know! '

'I just want to offer you moral support and a $10 donation (I am a pensioner). I am so angry I can hardly think straight. Good luck. I'm praying for you.'

And they kept coming.
More of your responses are here, including a heart felt poem on what we are losing.

Mandate to carry on Campaign

Monday, 20 July 2009 22:41

Monday night, ABC TV Four Corners gave a resounding endorsement of CCAG and the community blockade. In a thorough investigation into the mining V's farming standoff, Four Corners has shown that farmers have justifiable concerns in not trusting the mining companies.

Interviews with representatives from BHP and the Minerals Council clearly showed the reluctance to discuss risks involved with mining this area, and to categorically omit these unique plains from their mining plans.

Thanksgiving Celebration for Blockade Anniversary

Saturday, 18 July 2009 00:00

Lee Rhiannon MLC and Tony Windsor MP joined over 200 people at the 1 Year Blockade Anniversary Thanksgiving Party on Saturday. This community-based blockade on the Duddy's property at "Rossmar Park" has been going ONE YEAR, solid as ever in preventing access for further damaging coal "exploration" on Prime Agricultural Land until an independent, catchment-wide Water Study is signed and funded. enhanced image

Representatives from the Anglican, Catholic and Uniting churches delivered an uplifting service of thanksgiving in the glorious sunshine. Rev Peter Brain, Anglican Bishop of Armidale diocese, gave an inspiring address, in which he gave thanks for our productive land, our precious water supplies and our strong and resilient community. Everyone then enjoyed a hearty lunch of stew, damper, mulled wine and sticky date pudding laid on by the women of the SOS Liverpool Plains.

We are looking forward to seeing the "The Good Earth" on 4 Corners at 8.30pm on Monday ABC1, as it promises to showcase to the whole of Australia how important the Liverpool Plains and its water supplies are to Australian food and water security.

Mullaley Gas Information Session Draws Concerned Crowd

Friday, 17 July 2009 00:00

Over 200 people attended the Mullaley information session of coal seam gas organised by the NSW Farmers and CCAG Coal Seam Gas subcommittee on Friday morning. Speakers included specialists in geology, soil science, water and legal, personal experiences by farmers of coal seam gas production on properties, Tony Windsor MP and Lee Rhiannon MLC, CCAG and the President of NSW Farmers.

Most speakers highlighted the clear threat to water supplies from this industry and the extraordinarily permissive nature of State governments legislation when it comes to coal and gas mining versus the evisceration of private property rights. Federal MP, Tony Windsor, highlighted the Australian government's recent creation of the Murray Darling Basin Water Authority as one method by which critical water supplies in food bowls could be protected from now on. We certainly hope this independent authority will lead the way.

Community Care BHP style

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 22:23

Wednesday's ABC 7.30 Report on BHP's astonishingly abrupt and furtive exit from its nickel mine at Ravensthorpe in WA is a prescient warning of this mining giant's real commitment to the communities it invades.

All the promises, inducements, council cosying, flashy cash and then gone. Business bankrupt, lives disrupted, communities reeling.

We have been warned.

Souris speech says precedent has been set

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 00:00

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.

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Page 8 of 18

Food Fight

Latest from your foodbowl .....

Water study consultant appointed.

Qld introduces CSG information portal.

Qld proposes to quarantine land for food.

Water study reportedly referred to ICAC

Ministers confirm study funding after Ferguson visit.

Qld farmers organize to fight CSG expansion.

NSW Government legislation amendment
CCAG on miners deception
CCAG on exploration 'halt'

SOS Liverpool Plains urge buy back for Australia

NSW Government V's Supreme Court ruling-
Macdonalds new legislation here.
CCAG comments.
Greens position.
NSW Farmers comment
NSW Bar Association condemns cynical
move

Haystack Road Coal4 Breakfast - excellent latest newsletter regarding protection of Prime Ag Land in QLD

Blockade standdown -
NSW Greens support
NSW Farmers comment.

Supreme Court appeal - Decision here.
Tony Windsor MHR comments
NSW Greens comment

Abbott opposes mining before water study

Environmental Hazards of Oil & Gas Exploration

Commonwealth Intervention on MDB :-
CCAG supports commonwealth intervention of this vital resource.

Senate Food Enquiry :-
Peter Draper MP responds .
Tony Windsor MHR responds.
Senator Scott Ludlam responds.

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 here

21st 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?