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| Whitehaven Coal Vickery Forest coal mining operation, 2018 |
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| Maules Creek section of coal mining operation, 2018 |
Whitehaven Coal Limited is seeking
planning permission to extend its existing mining infrastructure footprint approx. 22kms north of Gunnedah in
north-west NSW, by adding a coal processing hub with an on site coal
handling and preparation plant (CHPP), train load-out facility and rail spur
line to service its open cut mines at Tarrawonga, Rocglen and Werris Creek.
Quite
naturally local rural communities are concerned…….
The
Northern Daily Leader,
5 October 2018:
The Greens have
condemned NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts and called his decision to
ignore the plea of drought-stricken farmers “the height of arrogance”.
The spraying follows
comments Mr Roberts made to The Leader yesterday, where he referred
to the 4000-page Vickery coal mine extension report as a
“relatively short document”, as he knocked back the request of farmers for
more time to read the submission.
Farmers say they are struggling to find time to read and understand the
massive document, let alone write a response to it, when they are hand
feeding cattle.
Greens resource
spokesman Jeremy Buckingham wrote to Mr Roberts in September, seeking to extend
the public consultation time from 42 days to 90 days, however is yet to receive
a response.
“Minister Anthony
Roberts has displayed the height of arrogance in ignoring local farmers and
communities and failing to give them a fair chance of responding to a 4000-page
document on Vickery coal mine,” Mr Buckingham said.
“Minister Roberts has
failed to acknowledge that many local folks are flat out keeping their
livestock and farms alive in drought conditions.
“Local farmers and
community members have asked for an reasonable extension of time to read
thousands of pages of documents and make a considered response, but the
Minister won’t listen.
“What does the NSW
Government have to hide on this Vickery coal mine proposal?”...
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