Representatives of The Mac last year told a Gulgong Chamber of Commerce meeting the company chose Cope Road as the site of the 400-bed temporary workers’ accommodation because of the town’s proximity to the planned Cobbora Coal Project at Laheys Creek, as well as other existing and planned mines.

But a meeting called by the Black Lead Community Action Group on Thursday heard CHC plans to build its own temporary accommodation during construction of the State Government owned project.

In a statement read at the meeting, CHC acting chief executive Steve Ireland said to ensure CHC could attract and keep a skilled workforce, the company proposed to build temporary accommodation for up to 400 people during the construction phase only.

The accommodation would be located in the area of one of the future pits, on land owned by CHC.

Mr Ireland said once the mine was in operation, CHC anticipated workers would live in the surrounding council areas.

We never had a problem with mines,” he said. “But if the region has to grow, we don’t want them in workers’ camps.

Approximately 60 per cent of the workers would live in the Dubbo City Council area, 15 per cent in Warrumbungle Shire, 15 per cent in Wellington Shire and 10 per cent in the Mid-Western Region.

“Therefore, an accommodation village during the operation of the mine is not part of the Cobbora Coal Project,” he said.

The CHC temporary workers’ village will be part of the CHC development application to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.

The operational workforce is expected by around 400 by 2019.

Andy Honeysett said other mining companies operating locally had advised they had not spoken to The Mac about using The Mac Gulgong.

Local mines advertised for workers willing to live within an hour of mines, which meant workers could be housed in Gulgong, Merriwa, Dunedoo, Cassilis, or Mudgee, he said.

Black Lead Action Group chairman Paul Kreuzen said the CHC statement cast doubt on The Mac’s claim the Gulgong site was the most central to regional mine.

Mr Kreuzen said in the past, local mine workers had grown up in the town, sent their children to school there, and played for the local football club.

“We never had a problem with mines,” he said. “But if the region has to grow, we don’t want them in workers’ camps.”

Mr Kreuzen was disappointed with the turnout to the meeting, which he had hoped would draw up to 1000 people from Rylstone, Kandos and Mudgee as well as Gulgong.

He urged the approximately 80 people at the meeting to talk to their neighbours about The Mac Gulgong and encourage them to make submissions or sign a petition opposing the project.

“Gulgong is in deep, deep trouble, unless the people here can convince the rest of the community - obviously we couldn’t,” he said.

Mr Kreuzen warned Gulgong risked losing its character if The Mac project went ahead.

“Mudgee has already lost part of its soul: It’s now Gulgong’s turn to lose its soul,” he said.