'WE CAN COEXIST' - MINING MYTH BLASTED
Wednesday, 26 October 2011 00:00
A report by Total Environment Centre (TEC) into mining policy in NSW has found that claims by mining companies and government that mining and the environment can 'coexist', are a myth.
"The state is facing a major stoush between mining, environment and agricultural stakeholders. In an effort to calm the political conflict, government and the coal and gas companies now claim these land uses can coexist. But TEC’s study of the last time NSW faced such a degree of controversy, in the 1990s, when government instituted a coexistence policy, shows massive damage occurred," said Jeff Angel, Executive Director of the Centre.
"In 1994 a report by the Coal Resources Development Committee predicted land use conflicts and proposed policies such as multiple land use and coexistence. However serious damage is occurring in those very same areas now:
- damaging underground mining has occurred around the foreshores on Lake Macquarie;
- creek diversions, the removal of entire villages, and giant open cut pits, are driving Hunter Valley and Mudgee farmers off the land;
- serious coal mine dust problems plague Singleton and Muswellbrook;
- cracking and draining of swamps and creeks has been caused by longwall mining under Sydney's water catchments."
"It's vital that the O'Farrell government sticks to its election promise of prohibiting mining in key environmental and agricultural areas. This time the community is awake to it."
TEC has also launched its 'Carbon Mine Threats Map' on its website, which shows many controversial sites across the state. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
