News

Bickham Only Part Of The Big Picture

25th May 2010

Racing And Sports - Tuesday, 25 May 2010

Halting the proposed Bickham coal mine near Murrurundi is only the first step in achieving sustainable long-term land management across the Upper Hunter Valley of NSW.

That's the view of Darley Australia managing director Hentry Plumptre, who is also the campaign leader for the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's 'Protect Our Industries' campaign.

NSW Premier Kristina Keneally last week announced that the mine, which would have extracted up to 36 million tonnes of coal from two adjacent open cut pits over a period of up to 25 years, would not be allowed to proceed. Further, the NSW Government will amend legislation to permanently ban mining on the site near the Pages River.

She said the decision would protect the thoroughbred industry and noted that the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) report found that potential impacts on water resources would far outweigh any benefits of proceeding with the project.

The Upper Hunter Shire Council endorsed the decision, saying it would provide certainty for residents and landholders in the area and recognised the value of water resources, agriculture and thoroughbred industries in the Upper Hunter.

“Further investments in the thoroughbred industry and support services, such as the Scone Equine Hospital can now proceed with some certainty,” Council said in a statement.

But Plumptre said it was important that exploration licences for “wildcat mines” such as Doyles Creek at Jerry's Plains, Ferndale at Yarrawa and Spur Hill at Denman were addressed within a broader strategic plan that would go well beyond Upper Hunter Shire boundaries.

“We have just about finished a strategic plan for the Hunter Valley and we will get that into government within the next two weeks, hopefully,” Plumptre said.

“The Bickham decision was an important benchmark decision for the region but already there are half a dozen other separate exploration licences in existence that pose just as big a threat, not in the Segenhoe Valley but further down, around Muswellbrook, Jerry's Plains and Denman,” he said.

“There are six projects that could have a massive impact.”

Plumptre said the HTBA hoped to consult directly with established mining companies in relation to licences to extend mining activities.

“We are hoping, with the bigger, more responsible mining companies, for direct consultation, in other words, getting a resolution that suits us and suits them and then going to government saying we are mutually agreed and this is the way we ought to go,” he said.

“If we can be involved in the process of deciding the mining footprint to make sure it doesn't impact us too much then we are happy to move forward. Projects unacceptable to us are the stand alone projects that currently have very little infrastructure, would have a profound impact on the region, and have no place to be there,” Mr Plumptre said.

He said the PAC report reflected the thoroughbred industry's concern over water resources.

“Water is the central issue and the water coming from Glenbawn is a pristine, well-managed supply, the water coming from the Pages River is now intact and Kingdon Ponds is a very good underground supply of water – but at the moment were a mining less than 10 per cent of the open cut coal planned for this region.

“Mangoola is going to be massive, and then there is Mt Pleasant, Dartbrook and West Muswellbrook. When the government says we have got to co-exist with mines, when there are mines like that, it's impossible.”

Arrowfield chief John Messara, who was prominent in the anti-Bickham campaign, said he anticipated that the NSW Government would look at mining applications on a case-by-case basis.

“Bickham was a case where there were flagrant risks to our water, but the positive thing to come out of the PAC report and the Premier's comments is that there is recognition that a strategic review of land uses in the Upper Hunter is necessary. It was a particular recommendation of the PAC report and the Premier reiterated it.

“I think the government will take a broader view than Bickham about the fact that we need diversity of industries in the region, and broadly, the fact the Premier is going to instigate a review of land use in the Hunter Valley is a most positive thing for all the inhabitants of the Hunter,” said Messara.

Photo by Bronwyn Farr