The Guardian 14 June, 2006
Upper Hunter action
Peter Kennedy
This past three weeks has seen activists very busy within the Newcastle and Upper Hunter districts of NSW with a series of actions. The first was a rally outside the Maitland offices of the Department of Primary Industries (minerals). As many as 60 concerned people gathered from coal producing districts of NSW who are affected in some way by coal mining.
They heard various speakers giving their accounts of how their communities were being attacked by mining companies wanting to establish mining operations in their districts, the newest being in the Breeza Plains area between Quirindi and Gunnedah in north west NSW.
The proponents of this huge underground development are none other than BHP-Billiton, a world leader in environmental vandalism. If this mine is given approval it will cut through the aquifer that feeds water into the surrounding river systems including a very dry Darling River. The underground water is so desperately need to sustain life for the farmers already feeling the effects of a serious drought.
Speakers told of irreparable damage done by long wall mining to the base of creeks and rivers, large cracks causing the streams to dry up completely. There was photographic evidence of good agricultural land being ruined by mine subsidence with little or no compensation being offered to the land holders by the mining corporations who caused the problem.
However there were some positives, when we were told the details of the successful campaign fought my local Lake Macquarie residents against an open cut proposal at Awaba. This proposal would have seen pristine bushland destroyed and uncontrolled environmental damage to the local area by Centennial Coal who eventually dropped the proposal.
Also on a positive, a determined bunch of Central Coast people beat off another attack where there their lovely piece of paradise was going to be drilled for gas and if successful a gas installation built to supply natural gas.
Both of these success stories prove that people power is the way to go!
There was another bright moment when the convener of the meeting, Bev Smiles, called for the reduction of ministerial power of Minister Ian McDonald who has the environment, forests and water all in his care.
Harbour blockaded
On Monday morning, June 5, World Environment Day, about 150 people gathered at Horseshoe beach, Newcastle along the entry into Newcastle Harbour, the world’s largest coal export port. This rally was called by Rising Tide, a group of mainly young activists who are very concerned about the effect that the rapidly expanding coal industry is having on Hunter communities.
In particular, they are concerned about a third coal loader which is planned for Newcastle. It would increase the capacity of the port facility by 70 percent — needed to handle the additional coal that planned expansion of mining to produce. This would dramatically worsen the already visible effect of global warming and climate change.
During the morning demo there were about 30 to 40 watercraft out on the water in the main shipping channel effectively blocking the exit and entry to the harbour. There was a press conference featuring NSW Greens Lee Rhiannon and Steve Phillips of Rising Tide. Both called on the government to listen to the voices of the people of the Hunter and not to approve the third coal loader.
In the afternoon the focus shifted to the Upper Hunter town of Denman where a major coal mine is being planned. The mine, called Anvil Hill, would be located just on the outskirts of town on part of the last valley floor remnant scrubland, the home to hundreds of species of birds and animals whose existence is threatened by this disastrous proposal. Some of these native plants and animals are only found in this particular piece of bush and are listed as endangered.
The Anvil Hill Project Watch group called for a public meeting to hear in depth the skulduggery that has gone on in respect to this proposal, including a $25,000 contract that the local people who have sold their land to Centennial Coal for the mine site are urged to sign.
By signing this "deal" they have to agree with anything that the mine wants to do in respect to the mining operation and not to speak negatively about Centennial Coal, this includes all family members and their guests.
Seventeen people attended and heard the chair of Anvil Hill Project Watch Chris Phelps, Greenpeace rep Ben Pearson and Geoff Evans from the Minerals Policy Institute speak on the importance of protecting Anvil Hill, the effect the mine will have on climate change, and how the Hunter could have a life away from coal.
A similar meeting was held in Muswellbrook on the Wednesday night where 40 people attended, proving that community awareness is growing in respect to coal mine expansion.
Both Mr Pearson and Mr Evans were taken to a lookout high above the Mt Arthur mine and were completely amazed at the size of the current operation and saw where the underground mine will be located if approved.
Later that day they met up with some land holders who will be directly affected my the Bickham mine proposal, currently under review. This parcel of land has some tourist potential and is also prime grazing and cropping land that a mining company wants to turn into a desert.