Media Release 26 February 2013

Meeting chair and Maules Creek farmer Phil Laird was encouraged by the audience. “A sea of hands shot up across the room in support of Tamworth being a coal seam gas free region in what appeared to be a unanimous vote,” he said.

Media Alert 22 February 2013

Community members and politicians from across North West NSW are coming together in a series of public meetings in the last week of February to learn more about the impacts of rapidly expanding coal seam gas and open cut coal mining, hearing from three experts travelling to the region from across Australia.

Media Release 19th February 2013

Residents of north-west NSW have expressed dismay that the CSG law changes put forward by Premier Barry O’Farrell this morning seem to do nothing to protect farmers, food-producing land or natural areas in the region.

“If Barry O’Farrell is telling us this morning that CSG mining is not safe – then it is not safe anywhere, not in Sydney and not in the Gunnedah Basin. What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander” said David Quince, farmer and chairperson of the Mullaley Gas Pipeline Accord.

“As far as we can see, there is absolutely nothing in these changes for north-west NSW. It looks to us as if the Liberal party has taken action to look after its voters in Sydney for a political quick fix, but the National Party has hung us out to dry” he said.

“Barry O’Farrell said that families in residential areas should not have to worry about their quality of life being affected by noise and visual impacts – but what about our families? Why should we be treated differently?” said Penny Blatchford, farmer and spokesperson for Bellata Gurley Action Group Against Gas.

“If coal seam gas is unsafe in Campbelltown, then it is unsafe everywhere; if coal seam gas is a risk to wine-growing and horse-breeding areas in the Hunter Valley, then it is a risk to our food and fibre producing areas in the north-west.

“What do we have to do to force this government to protect our farms and businesses – plant vines and build stables?” she asked.

“There are a number of CSG licences in the north-west that are soon to be renewed by the NSW Government, including controversial licences over Bellata, the Pilliga, Coonamble and the Liverpool Plains” said Carmel Flint, spokesperson for Lock The Gate Alliance.

“The NSW Government should put those licences on hold, and put in place a proper moratorium on all coal seam gas drilling until the many risks acknowledged by Premier O’Farrell today have been properly quantified” she said.

 Media Release 18th February 2013

The results of the first community survey on coal seam gas in the north-west region have returned an overwhelming vote for the Mullaley area to be declared coal seam gas free.

Local people have surveyed every landowner and resident along all the rural roads and villages from Mullaley to Tambar Springs over the last two months, with 98.5% voting to declare the area ‘CSG Free’ .

On Friday evening at the Mullaley Hall, landowners and residents celebrated the results and presented  declarations of their CSG Free roads to Councillor David Quince Gunnedah Shire Council and Anne-Louise Capel Warrumbungle Shire Council – with the request that the declarations be handed to the Mayor of  Gunnedah and Coonabarabran Councils.

Spokesperson Robyn King stated that “98.5%  is a great result by any standards.  When it comes as the result of a survey asking ‘Do you want your road/land gasfield free?’ And 98.5% of people survey said YES, it is an amazing result.”

The survey , based on an approach that has been applied successfully in the Northern Rivers, provided the community an opportunity to speak out against CSG in this region.

A large crowd gathered in the Mullaley Hall on Friday night to eagerly await  results of the survey. Loud applause and cheers erupted when the result was announced. Some people were visibly moved to know the extent of support in the district.

“The survey has proved a wonderful way of uniting our community.  We know we will stand together against CSG. The declarations that were handed to the local councillors said it all ‘…this road is gasfield free.  Protected by the will of the community‘” Robyn King said.

Residents of each road surveyed were presented with a sign to be erected clearly stating that this road/land is gasfield free. More celebrations are planned as each sign is erected along the many roads surveyed.

“Santos have stated that they will not force land access.  These declarations send a  very clear message to Santos and all levels of government – we don’t want coal seam gas and we are determined to protect our land and water” Robyn King said.

The EPBC approval of the Boggabri coal expansion can be found here

The EPBC approval of the Maules Creek coal project can be found here

Lock the Gate – Media Release 11th February 2013

COURT CHALLENGE LOOMS AS BURKE BACKFLIPS ON BIG COAL AND GAS

The Gillard Government has continued its woeful record of capitulation to big coal and gas mining by today approving three highly contentious mining projects – two coal mines near Maules Ck in north-west NSW and a coal seam gas field near Gloucester.

The Federal Government has now approved over 18,000 coal seam gas wells in Australia and every single coal mine that has been referred to it.  Legal challenges are now likely according to the Lock the Gate Alliance.

“Last week Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke slammed the NSW Government for inadequate controls on mining, and this week he has caved in and signed off on their failings” said Carmel Flint, spokesperson for Lock The Gate Alliance.

“Last week Tony Burke deferred a decision on the Maules Ck and Boggabri coal mines until the end of April, and this week he has rushed out and approved the mines.

“He didn’t even take the time to properly investigate the evidence provided to him that the mines proposal were based on false and misleading information.

“The Minister has yet again simply folded to the demands of big coal and gas corporations.  It is a very sad day today for the people of Maules Creek and Gloucester – their lives will change forever as a result of what the Minister has done today.

“Many will no longer be able to live on their farms and properties and those who stay are likely to experience serious health impacts, their property values will plummet and their small communities will be split apart.  The places they love will be torn apart.

“These decisions reflect both a complete failure of the Federal legal system and a profound failure of political courage.

“Rarely, if ever, have such environmentally damaging developments been approved – the coal mines will destroy a critically endangered ecosystem and an important koala population; the gasfield will threaten underground water resources.

“Community groups and concerned citizens have already launched a legal fighting fund and we are almost certain to see these matters end up in court” she said.

Information or comment:  Carmel Flint 0400 521474

The decision by Tony Burke to clear 4000 Ha of the Leard Forest for an open cut coal mine that will produce more greenhouse gases than 167 individual countries can be challenged on legal grounds.

There are 3 different actions that may flow and a fighting fund has been setup to accept funds. The details are below.

BSB: 325-185

Account number: 03547132

Account Name: Maules Creek Community Council Inc

If required, please  email upthecreek2382@gmail.com to obtain a receipt.  Tell your friends on twitter and facebook using the buttons below:-

I just donated to the #Leard Forest Fighting Fund. https://maulescreek.org/maules-creek-leard-forest-fighting-fund/ Together we protect our forests, farmland and #climate from #coal

Lock the Gate – Media Release 7th February 2013

WISE DECISION TO DEFER FEDERAL MINE APPROVALS LEAVES NSW GOVERNMENT EXPOSED

Lock The Gate Alliance says a decision by the Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, to delay a decision on two coal mines near Boggabri in north-west NSW, including the Whitehaven Maules Ck Coal Project, has exposed gaping holes in the NSW planning process which approved the mines.

The timeframe for making a federal decision on the mines has been delayed until the 30th April.

“We welcome the wise decision by Tony Burke today to defer a decision on the two proposed coal mines in Leard State Forest” said Carmel Flint, spokesperson for Lock The Gate Alliance.

“There was strong evidence to suggest that the information provided by the companies on which he had to base his decision was incorrect and grossly inadequate.

“HIs decision contrasts sharply with the approach of the NSW Government – which has been to rush through approval for these mines no matter what the cost to the environment and the community or how inadequate the science.

“The NSW Government is now left looking incredibly exposed – the planning process did not even identify that the proposed offsets for the mine were mapped incorrectly by the companies.

“In fact, the NSW planning process is so weak that there is no independent study done of the proposed mine offsets – it is left to the miners to hire consultants to do their own assessments.

“This is particularly worrying in relation to the Maules Ck mine where there have been political donations made by the proponent to the National Party and where ex-National Party politicians are holding key roles such as chairman of the board.

“Instead of attacking the Federal Minister, the NSW Government should now urgently commence an investigation as to whether it has approved the two mines based on false and misleading information, and to review the process it has for accepting mining consultants information” she said.

Information or comment: Carmel Flint 0400 521474

_____________________________________________

Lock the Gate – Media Release 6th February 2013

D-DAY FOR MINISTER – DECISION TIME FOR MINES MIRED IN CONTROVERSY

Lock The Gate Alliance has called on the Federal Environment Minister to reject the proposed Boggabri coal mines tomorrow, including the Whitehaven Maules Ck Project, or to expect legal problems.  A decision is due on the mines under Federal Environment laws on the 7th February.

An independent scientific study released two weeks ago indicated the environmental assessments on which the mines were based was flawed and that the data used was incorrect.

“We are calling on the Federal Environment Minister to think long and hard about this one – it would be a very bad precedent to approve these mines based on false and incorrect information” said Carmel Flint, campaign co-ordinator with Lock The Gate Alliance.

“The man at the centre of the ANZ hoax, Jonathan Moylan, has been interviewed by ASIC and subject to heavy investigation – equal legal rigor needs to be applied to Whitehaven and allegations that they have sought a mining approval based on false information.

 “If the Minister approves these mines without an independent inquiry or investigation, he will undermine the integrity of the Federal environment laws with a single stroke.

“There is no doubt that the legality of any decision will be in question and that the most likely consequence is a long and contested process through the courts.

“The proposed coal mines will clear over 4,000 hectares of Leard State Forest, destroy a critically endangered ecosystem and harm numerous threatened species including the Koala.

“We are calling on the Minister to reject the mines outright or to extend the timeframe and commission a rigorous independent investigation into the information on which Whitehaven and the other miners have based their claims” she said.

Information or comment:  Carmel Flint 0400 521474

The author of the independent study is also available for interview on request.

Award winning author Sharyn Munro, will be speaking at the Maules Creek Hall on Friday 1.2.2013 at 7.30.

Sharyn is the author of the book “Rich Land,  Waste Land” that contains stories from mine affected communities in the Hunter Valley and Queensland.  A brief bio of Sharyn can be found here.

Sharyn’s experience of coal and gas companies and the stress that it places on local communities will be of great benefit to the residents of Maules Creek.

Books can be purchased and signed after the presentation.

Gold coin donation.

Check Sharyns blog at http://sharynmunro.com/