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Wednesday, 24 September 2008 00:00 |
One of the reasons we struggle with any mining company declaration that they won’t do something environmentally damaging is that, when push comes to shove, they usually do once a mining lease is granted, in concert with a remarkably lax attitude at the Environmental Protection Agency who purport to protect the environment.
 Duralie coal mine’s recent application to have its licence conditions changed, so that it can dump dirty water into the pristine Mammy Johnsons River in Stroud, is a case in point. Even though Minister Craig Knowles said on granting the mining lease “There shall be no discharge of dirty water from the mine to Mammy Johnsons River” and Frank Sartor said explicitly, on granting a mining extension in 2006, “In approving the project, I have insisted on a number of environmental measures to minimise its impact and protect Mammy Johnsons River,” Duralie Coal is now pressing to discharge dirty water into the local river as “the most cost effective solution to the mine’s waste water problem”.
Will our government and the EPA honour its promises to protect this River? Are promises and guarantees worth anything? Will never become next week? On the Liverpool Plains with world class aquifers and soil, we watch with interest. |
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Tuesday, 16 September 2008 00:00 |
Maintaining the Rage and Bringing it On!
 Gunnedah was treated to its own example of People Power on Tuesday as over three hundred clean air, clean food and clean water supporters Rallied for their Rights outside the town’s Civic Centre which was holding the Gunnedah Basin Coal Conference. Whilst supporters came from far and wide, conference delegates were few and far between, for some reason not using the front entrance. Why does People Power frighten mining companies? Could it be they know that we know they extract far more than just coal from the health and wellbeing of the community and environment surrounding their mines?
MPs Tony Windsor (Ind,), Lee Rhiannon (Greens) and Trevor Khan (Nat.) addressed the crowd with Tony Windsor stating that he had no doubt People Power would win this fight for food and water on the Liverpool Plains, and that he would be asking the mining community to fund the independent, catchment-wide water study during their conference so that everyone would know, once and for all, whether mining and farming could co-exist sustainably, without long term damage to the soil or aquifers, in this outstanding agricultural area.
Lee Rhiannon emphasised the scarcity of good agricultural land in Australia and how it must be kept in production representing this country’s food security and ability to feed other nations of the world; whilst State MLC member Trevor Khan urged CCAG and its supporters to ‘maintain the rage’ and take our People Powered message to Macquarie Street . The gathering chaired by Doug Ranken of CCAG, was also addressed by Narrabri grain grower and council member, Bevan O’Regan, discussing Freehold Property Rights and the latest moves to challenge clearing laws and carbon ownership of vegetation in the courts. We live in interesting times.
After CCAG’s signature balloon release, signifying just how far coal dust could also travel, the crowd joined Steve Charles in a rousing rendition of People Power Liverpool Plains’ rallying cry “Bring It On”. Given the fun and enthusiasm of the crowd today, we certainly will.
NEWSFLASH - Despite pictures circulating on the internet, CCAG deny that one of their Coal-Dust-Carries-Far-And-Wide balloons has been found on Mars. |
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What they say, what they mean ..#3 |
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Saturday, 06 September 2008 00:00 |
“BHP is not considering open cut mining on any part of the Caroona ELA”.
For now. Note that ‘considering’ is in the present tense. CCAG call on BHP to rule out open cut mining on any part of the Caroona ELA and guarantee that they will not pass the lease to another mining company to open cut the Caroona ELA either.
| Where are they going to put their extensive, heavy mining infrastructure? Do BHP intend to clear cut Doona State Forest to make way?
CCAG call on BHP to rule out placing their coal elevator, washing plant or coal loader on Doona State Forest, an important piece of remnant pilliga scrub habitat and a place of great significance to the Kamilaroi people.
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Keeping the political pressure on |
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Friday, 05 September 2008 00:00 |
We’d like to thank the support we’re getting in both State and Federal parliaments for an independent, catchment wide water study and a moratorium on mining on State Significant agricultural land. Questions by Tony Windsor (Independent, New England) and Mark Coulton (Nationals, Parkes) in Federal Parliament this month have seen Federal Ministers Penny Wong (Climate Change & Water) and Peter Garrett (Environment) playing pass-the-parcel with issues that should surely receive far more attention than a game of State and Federal ping pong. We, the people, expect better.
Given past experience, and government game playing, the apolitical CCAG believe People Power is the only way to make Ministers like these accountable to the People and Country they serve. |
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Sunday, 17 August 2008 17:33 |
SOS Liverpool Plains are at it again at Agquip this week as part of the NSW Farmers stand (G24). Cakes, NO MINE signs and ballons flew off the stand as people signed petitions and sent a postcard-to-the pollies to register their disgust at NSW planning laws and mining companies’ environmental vandalism.
The ladies were thrilled at the response to their informational efforts with many Gunnedahshire residents pledging their support for keeping Australia’s most valuable food bowl as a producer, not a polluter.
Comments from Muswellbrook teenagers were most poignant: “You don’t want mines here, we should know, we get the asthma and are off school so much with sickness”. We don’t want, or need, mines here either. See you at Agquip! |
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Sunday, 17 August 2008 00:00 |
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Porkie Pies – Olympic Edition August 08 The Worst of the Mining Companies, PR agencies, NSW government spin Ø Gold medal winner: Nikki Williams, CEO Minerals Council (aka “Mining Spin Central”) For her latest porkie-laden fairytale in the Northern Daily Leader (11/08/08) that: “mining and other land users happily coexist.” Tell that to the farmers who’s water supplies have dried up; to the farming communities whose health has been affected; to the towns that become fragmented by the “fly-in, fly out” workers; to the councils who can’t fix the roads fast enough from heavy truck damage; to the farmers and communities outside the mine licence devastated by noise, dust and pollution for which the mines bear no responsibility. Have a look at the Hunter Valley with its piles of toxic broken rock pretending to be soil with no natural drainage; at the ponds full of acid water leaking heavy metals and massive amounts of salt into the water supplies. Coal mining ruins everything it touches and other land users are anything but happy....for hundreds of years to come. Ø Silver medal winner: Minister for Mines Ian McDonald This serial porkie pier could only make second this time for: “The awarding of this exploration licence [Watermark] will benefit the local area and the state...It will generate funding for infrastructure and services such as hospitals, schools and roads." Nonsense Mr MacDonald and you know it. Even the pro-mining mayor of Gunnedah complained that mining hasn’t done much for local areas. The awarding of this licence only fuels the broke NSW governments addiction to easy money. The only infrastructure that benefits will be for the new rail link to carry more coal. The hospitals will definitely need more money spent to counter the effects of toxic coal dust and mining on the surrounding population. How much money does mining COST our health services? That is the question the community and GPs in Singleton want answered so dismayed are they at the soaring levels of ill-health. Ø Bronze medal winner: Andrew Stoner, MP, Leader of NSW Nationals Normally much more used to coming last, Stoner has managed to slink into 3rd place this month for his totally unsubstantiatable nonsense in the Northern Daily Leader (29/07/08) “We believe it is possible for mining to avoid the aquifers in the Liverpool Plains.” We have asked Mr Stoner on what he bases this understanding...a deafening silence has been the result. We are deeply underwhelmed at the Nationals grasp of this important country issue. No wonder people believe them to be “missing in-inaction”. |
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The Whoppers are Bigger at BHP! |
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Tuesday, 05 August 2008 17:35 |
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 As Joseph Goebbels, Head of Nazi Propoganda said: “If you tell a lie big enough a nd keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” Not at Caroona, the People here are not so easily fooled.
Full report on their latest propaganda porkies coming soon. Watch this space! |
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Page 14 of 18 |
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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?
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