NOTICE
The Committee is meeting with John Maitland on WEDNESDAY NIGHT 23rd JULY 5PM. This is ahead of a larger proposed meeting with RESCO (DOYLES CREEK MINING) and their partners next week. Stay Tuned!
The Editor
David Burchill (Weekend AustralianJuly12/13) points out that most Sydneysiders visiting the Blue Mountains are unaware that hidden beneath the pristine mountain topography is “a honeycomb of small mines dug in the early days of white settlement” The vast scale of coal mining which is today conducted in the Hunter Valley is such to defy anyone to walk or drive through our valley and not despair of the irreparable damage to our forests and farmlands caused by mining. This pattern of destruction is now also threatening whole communities. In the Upper Hunter Valley, entire heritage listed communities such as Jerrys Plains are now under immediate threat of extinction so that the coal around and beneath it can be dug up, sent offshore and burnt. In return for large profits, big companies permanently degrade our forests, devastate our productive land, provide a product that pollutes on a catastrophic scale, and destroy the lives of those who happen to live near this “black gold”. What a sad, disastrous investment for Australia. Whilst China may be buying the earth-choking means to improve its standard of living, it is we who are paying the true, heartbreaking price. Gwen Chapman.
Jerrys Plains
LET’S STICK TO THE FACTS
Like many others I have attended our town meetings with great concern for the future of our little village, my neighbours and myself. I feel as angry as anyone that we are being forced to go through this. However, let’s make sure we stick to the facts and work towards the best outcome for Jerrys Plains. Wambo Coal has every right to apply for a licence to explore for coal. This is not illegal. Initially common courtesy was ignored when they failed to inform the community of their intentions. However, it is not unusual for big business to lack courtesy. We have received an apology for the way things were handled and Wambo’s representatives have begun to make positive moves towards improving our relationship. We need to let go of our anger and look to our next step. The area for exploration has been mapped out for some time. We hope that Peabody will act on Peter Doyle’s words that they will not explore in the cemetery or near the hall. They put this in writing in their last letter to the community. They also said they were committed to underground mining. We worry that this commitment might change when the coal is definitively located. If Wambo Mining is allowed to explore and exploration leads to mining, I assume it will be the state government who will allow/disallow the type of mining undertaken. Peabody will, understandably, do what is best for Peabody.
Our concern is to have some say in the development of our town and the assurance that our environment will not deteriorate further. It seems to me that the only party who can vary any exploration area is the State Government. We were told that exploration areas were mapped out some time ago, before our village grew to the size it is today. There needs to be some kind of regular review of these areas to keep them in line with development and provide adequate protection for the people who will be affected. Our local council has approved, in good faith, the building of houses which will be totally unsuitable should mining be allowed in their vicinity. In a letter from the Minister, Ian McDonald, I was assured that the community will be consulted if mining is allowed. We must be ready to provide all relevant information should this consultation be required. Communication with George Souris tells me that our problem lies in the fact that consideration of an application to mine looks at the impact of that mine only, disregarding the cumulative impact of all the mines and power stations in our locality. We must look at changing the way mining applications are assessed to acknowledge the impact when a town is surrounded by mines and power stations as we seem set to be.
ResCo has emerged, depending upon how you see it, as either another threat, or a saviour of sorts. If we accept that someone will come to mine the coal that ResCo wants to mine, and history indicates that this will happen, then we need to look at our best interests in this area. If this area is mined will any other company offer to bring something to Jerrys Plains? A mining school could balance the future development of our town with the advance of mining. We need to explore this. The community voted to continue our dialogue with ResCo. There was talk of our being involved in a meeting between the parties who make up the group who would run the school. I think that we should hear from these other groups. I hardly think it surprising that the mining arm of the group was less informed about how the school would run. I’m sure the training school and the university could put this area into perspective for us. Consider how we would have reacted had the “school” people approached us and then it had emerged that a mine would be established to support the school. Wouldn’t we have seen that as subterfuge? At least ResCo appeared to be upfront with their intentions.
Fear of what might happen is unproductive. We must decide on the future of our village together, based on knowledge and understanding of what is in the offing. Then, we will be able to fight our battles on the appropriate fronts. We must encourage all stakeholders to take part and try to do our best for all. Part of Jerrys Plains School’s pledge is: “We take an active part in decisions about our future.” Let’s make sure we do! Judith Hadley