Mid-Western Regional Council has called for a moratorium on new exploration and mining in the Bylong Valley and a study into the effects of mining across the region.
At an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday to consider the director-general’s requirements for the proposed Mt Penny coal mine, council voted to write to Premier Kristina Keneally calling for the moratorium on approval of exploration and mining licenses in the Bylong Valley including the Coggan Valley.
In his report to the meeting, general manager Warwick Bennett said council and the community were unable to make informed decisions without information on the effects of mining on water, the environment and agricultural land.
Council also called on the new State Government to legislate to protect productive farmland, inform all affected landowners before exploration licenses are approved, conduct a proper assessment of dust, noise and water pollution, including the protection of underground water supplies, before an exploration license is granted, and extend the Upper Hunter Air Quality Network group to the Mid-Western Regional Council area.
In his letter to Ms Keneally, Mayor Des Kennedy said it was clear to the council and the community stopping applications for mining approvals was almost impossible once the exploration licenses have been approved.
“It should be noted that the community have virtually no say in the issuing of exploration licenses,” he said.
Cr Kennedy said in his opinion, the the Department of Industry and Investment was totally focused on issuing exploration licenses to get the coal out of the ground without regard to the damage left behind or the impact on the affected communities.
The land proposed to be mined in the Bylong area was some of the richest and most productive land in Australia, he said.
“You as leaders of our great country more than anyone should be aware that some of the future food bowls of this country are going to be totally destroyed for the short term financial gains of mining,” Cr Kennedy’s letter stated.
“That is not in the long term interest of this community and indeed Australia.”
Copies of the letter will be sent to Minister for Planning Tony Kelly and Minister for Industry and Investment, their heads of department, Opposition leader Barry O’Farrell, National Party Leader Andrew Stoner, Opposition spokesmen for planning and for industry and investment and all candidates for the coming NSW elections in the seats of Bathurst, Orange and the Upper Hunter.
Council will also invite the Premier, Mr O’Farrell, and all state government candidates for local state seats to attend a public meeting before March 26 to address their views on mining in the Mid-Western Region.
Debate on mining in the Bylong Valley drew a passionate response from councillors.
Cr Shelley said that with an election approaching, it was time to give the State Government a good slap.
“To have mining in pristine agricultural regions is not on,” he said. “It is time the government looked after the whole of NSW and not just the eastern seaboard of Sydney.”
However, Cr Max Walker said that Mid-Western Regional Council had to face reality and work with the State Government and mines to get the infrastructure it needs to support growth.
“If we don’t work together for the best outcome for the whole of the area, we’re letting the whole area down,” he said.
“Let’s face reality. If we don’t work with the mines to help infrastructure in the shire and our roads and the whole caboodle, we’re going backwards.”
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