Jun 30 2014
Peoples Battle for Nature
An initiative of the Leard Forest Alliance
Photographic exhibition/multi media
Thursday, 10 July 2014 10AM-8PM
Exhibition Room, Crossing Theatre, Tibbereena St, Narrabri
Everyone is welcome to this free entry event with a programme of activities aimed at informing the community about the protests against the Maules Creek coal mine, and the destruction of Leard Forest. Guests will be greeted by the sound of Leard Forest birdsong, and reminded that this sound is doomed to be forever lost to the world if Maules Creek mine proceeds.
1. Photographic exhibition curated by The Wilderness Society
40 prints on exihibition are for sale, raising funds for the campaign to Save Leard Forest. This exhibition is touring Sydney – Melbourne – Armidale – Narrabri.
2. Film launch – “Fight for Leard Forest”
Fight for Leard Forest is a 20 minute documentary by filmmaker Leighton Donnelly, who captured footage over a period of several visits to the Leard Blockade.
This will be shown hourly, starting at 10:30AM until last showing at 5:30PM.
3. Panel discussion – 6-7PM
Why are so many people defying the law to save Leard Forest?
A panel of community members will explain why the Maules Creek coal mine should never have been approved, and the motivations which lead people to commit acts of civil disobedience to demonstrate against the actions of Whitehaven Co
Discussion chair: Mr Rohan Boehm, North West Alliance
Speakers:
Rev John Brentnall, Liverpool Plains Uniting Church Resource Minister, Gunnedah
Mr Raymond McLaren, Andromeda Industries, extractive specialist and engineer, Moonbi
Senior representative of the Gomeroi nation, Red Chief Local Aboriginal Lands Council (Invited)
Mr Murray Dreschler, co-founder Leard Blockade camp
4. Multi media exhibits
Slide shows explaining:
- The dispute concerning “biodiversity offsets”, undertakings by Whitehaven Coal to provide “like for like” habitat for the endangered species of Leard Forest , and
- How the protesters’ civil disobedience -non-violent direct action – differs from the alleged criminality of the Whitehaven Coal enterprise
5. Children’s activities “7 endangered birds of Leard Forest”
Unbeknownst to most people, Leard Forest is teeming with wildlife, and represents a unique and valuable ecosystem in which many plants and creatures are already listed by the NSW Scientific Committee as “vulnerable” or even “critically endangered” under NSW law. Koalas, microbats, snakes and birds are among the vanishing species.
Maules Creek coal mine threatens to make many of the bird species extinct. Children’s activities seek to inform children aged K-6 about 7 of the endangered bird species.
Jul 19 2014
MCCC Response to Whitehaven Blasting Management Plan 18.7.2014
Maules Creek Community Council Inc
18 July 2014
Mr Daniel Martin
Environmental Manager
Maules Creek Coal
dmartin@whitehavencoal.com.au
Dear Daniel
Further to the Blast Management Plan consultation meeting held on Monday 14 July 2014 at Whitehaven’s Boggabri office, the Maules Creek Community Council (MCCC) would like to request an extension to the closing date for comments on the draft plan.
As you’d appreciate the technical aspects of the blasting plan are quite complex and the possible impacts of blasting on the surrounding community and environment are significant and this may be the last opportunity for the community to be consulted on the impacts of blasting. The MCCC is not in a position to respond fully to the draft plan by the closing date of 18 July 2014 and would like to request a 28 day extension, with a proposed new closing date of 15August 2014.
This new closing date would enable full and proper consultation regarding the draft plan with the community. Consultation conducted to date does not appear to have been advertised to the all members of the community who may be impacted by the proposed blasting program and it is important that they are consulted and their feedback provided.
Specifically, the extension would enable the MCCC to more fully consider the science behind the blast management strategy, obtain independent technical advice on a number of areas of concern, including the placement of monitoring units, impact on residential buildings, health impacts of blast emissions and the impact of blasting on important species of local flora and fauna.
The MCCC would also like the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the interrelationship between the Maules Creek Coal Blast Management Plan and the Leard Forest Mining Precinct Blast Management Plan or the new BTM Complex Blast Management Strategy. To facilitate this understanding MCCC would like to receive a copy of the Precinct Blast Management Plan or BTM Complex BLMS and would like the opportunity to be briefed by and ask questions of Maules Creek Coal, Tarrawonga and Boggabri Coal at a joint community meeting during the consultation period.
Assuming in good faith that Maules Creek Coal grant the requested extension, a copy of the following documents are requested to enable ongoing assessment of the draft Blast Management Plan:
We appreciate your consideration of our request for an extension to the consultation period.
Regards
MCCC
By MCCC • Uncategorized •