Mar 1 2013
Boggabri Coal Protest Aquittal triggers calls for Police to act against miners
MEDIA RELEASE 1ST MARCH 2013
In Narrabri Local Court today, Lock the Gate campaigner Carmel Flint was acquitted of three charges arising from a protest at the Boggabri Coal mine last year.
Ms Flint had been charged with entering and remaining on inclosed land and hindering the working of mining equipment. The latter offence carries a maximum 7 year gaol term.
Another local citizen, 84 year old birdwatcher Russ Watts, had charges against him for a separate protest last year at the same mine withdrawn earlier this week.
This follows the recent withdrawal of charges against two women from Fullerton Cove for a protest against coal seam gas mining in their local area last year.
“My acquittal and the withdrawal of charges against Mr Watts and the Fullerton residents suggests that the police pursuit of community protestors has been heavy-handed and unnecessary.
“We are now asking the NSW police to show equal vigour in enforcing the law against mining companies and pursuing the legal cloud hanging over the Maules Ck coal mine.
“In particular, we are calling for a police inquiry into the recent leaking of documents relating to the Maules Ck mine which led to its subsequent approval by the Federal Environment Minister.
“We believe the NSW police should be urgently investigating the source of the leak, for what purpose the documents were leaked, and whether the mining company had any involvement.
“As the long shadow of the ICAC corruption inquiry hangs over the administration of mining in NSW, the police should be taking the strongest possible action to prove to a concerned community that the mining industry is not a law unto itself.
“I would personally like to thank my solicitor, Peter Long, for his generous and capable representation in court today” she said.
Mar 13 2013
Letter to the Editor AFR 14.3.2013
Dear Editor;
In response to Whitehaven’s outgoing CEO, Tony Heggarty, I would like to make it clear that the local community is very concerned about open cut mining in the Leard State Forest and its surrounds.
The mines in the area will create 18,000 tonnes of dust that will fallout over the surrounding community. And according to the independent Namoi Catchment Water Study the opencut pits will reduce the alluvial groundwater aquifers by 5 meters which will severely affect our stock and domestic water supplies, particularly in drought. Purchases of 34 local properties by the miners is depopulating our community and the clearing of 4000 Ha or more of Native Forest will greatly affect our environment.
The few properties in the district that are selling are devalued or being purchased by the miners at a time of their choosing. Residents who need to retire, expand or move away have their lives on hold. Crops have been washed away due to re-directed surface water flows.
None of this is pretty and such impacts were not a factor before coal came to the area.
When Whitehaven’s Maules Creek Project was first muted some time ago we told the miners that we could support underground mines due to the reduced impact on local people and for the jobs and the economic activity that it could bring. However this was not to be and we are now left with no alternative but to fight for our community.
This is not a battle that a small rural community can win on its own and we wholeheartedly welcome like minded souls to our district to lend support.
Australia is more than huge open cut mines, overburden dumps and the FIFO jobs that it brings. Many Australians are hearing the “Call to Country” from Lock the Gate and others. To the Tony Heggarty’s of the world I say “We are resolute and this is only the beginning”.
Phil Laird
By MCCC • Uncategorized •