A drawn-out battle over some of Australia’s rarest woodlands has dogged the development of the $766 million Maules Creek mine in the Gunnedah Basin of north-west NSW.
Majority owned by Whitehaven Coal, clearing and construction on the open cut coal mine started in the middle of last year.
The company describes Maules Creek as a ‘world-class project’. But a new report indicates that Whitehaven may have breached environmental conditions attached to the mine’s approval.
Repost from RN Breakfast – New report challenges Whitehaven Coal approval
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Mr. John Hunter, having heard him present to me as a part of a small audience, seems to be a sensitive and a sensible individual. He is also one who has spent many many years looking at offsets for mine projects. I recommend listening to him here and listening to the 7m:22s radio report.
Aside from the preceding, I have heard other botanists make the point that the Leard State Forest and the Pilliga State Forest are both biodiversity hotspots. I do not name them here because they have not volunteered to be on the public record.
From my own environmental studies, I know that Australian soils are unique. They are slow to replenish i.e. old. This is due to a lack of volcanic activity. They are subject to floods and droughts more than other lands around the world. The vegetation and animal life that has therefore evolved, over hundreds of millions of years, is also unique. It can handle these conditions.
In relation to mining, I believe that it is inappropriate to take a one size fits all approach. In any case, the minerals will run out and alternatives will have to be found. Why destroy more and more biodiversity, food growing capacity, usable water in the meantime?
Tom Livanos.
Armidale, New South Wales.
Tuesday 25 February 2014.
tom.369@hotmail.com