Following is a media release from the "Barrington - Gloucester - Stroud Preservation Alliance" regarding the very real threat of Government condoned pollution of a valuable country river by the parasites of the earth.
I think we already know, but let us see the Governments true colours on this one . (any bets ??) Lets see what he thinks their "strict environmental conditions to protect local waterways and the amenity of local residents" really are.
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GLOUCESTER COAL SEEKS APPROVAL TO POLLUTE
Community members of the Duralie Coal Community Consultative Committee have continually complained about the improper practices carried out at the Duralie Coal mine, near the township of Wards River, by Duralie Coal Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Stock Exchange listed Gloucester Coal Ltd.
“ Duralie Coal has been guilty of blatant and continual non-compliance with the Conditions of Consent fixed by the NSW Government and by the Great Lakes Council at the time the mining lease was granted to the Company” said Mr Tony Tersteeg, a foundation member of the Consultative Committee.
Mr Tersteeg, who also chairs the Barrington-Gloucester-Stroud Preservation Alliance Inc., claims that Duralie Coal has been guilty, among other breaches of the Conditions of Consent, of discharging polluted irrigation water from the mine’s operations into Mammy Johnsons River on numerous occasions.
Strong submissions from the local community against the original approval of the mining lease were dismissed. However the community was heartened in 2006 when the Hon Frank Sartor, Minister for Planning, stated that, in approving an $11 million extension to the mine, he had fixed “strict environmental conditions to protect local waterways and the amenity of local residents”.
“In approving the project, I have insisted on a number of environmental measures to minimise its impact and protect Mammy Johnsons River”, Minister Sartor said. “ The proponent [Duralie Coal] will be required to continue the use of a strictly controlled irrigation scheme to dispose of water, preventing any discharge to local waterways.” “I have attached almost100 conditions to my approval”, he added.
“Right from the very start of the proposed mine, community concerns have centred on the probability of discharge of polluted water from the mine into Mammy Johnsons River and from there into the Karuah River and eventually into Port Stephens itself” said Mr Tersteeg. “That very thing has occurred from time to time without any penalties being imposed by the Minister or any departmental authorities. And that has been during an extended period of years of drought.”
The year 2008 has seen the return of normal weather patterns to the Gloucester Valley with rivers, creeks and dams in the region running a banker. These conditions have impacted on the mining operations of Duralie Coal to the extent that containment of polluted mining water within the existing irrigation scheme has become unmanageable with consequent discharge into local waterways the result.
“Despite the assurances of the Minister that the imposed conditions would avoid the problem Duralie Coal has applied to the Dept. of Environment & Climate Change for a change of licence conditions to allow direct discharge into Mammy Johnsons River,” stated Mr Tersteeg. “If the Minister approves this outrageous application it will merely confirm that the Government is a willing tool of the mining industry and has no environmental integrity whatsoever.”
“As the historic township of Stroud and other downstream communities largely rely upon Mammy Johnsons River and the Karuah River for their drinking and household water any consideration of Duralie Coal’s latest application is unacceptable” he added.
“The problem has been caused by the mine management itself and its rectification should be the sole responsibility of Duralie Coal. To foist that responsibility onto the community by merely changing the rules is preposterous in the extreme. It is not as though the mine management hadn’t been told this would happen right from the start,” said Mr tersteeg.
Duralie Coal says that the changes that are being sought will only apply while consideration is being given as to how the problem can be overcome.
“Surely the appropriate approach is for the Minister to order that all mining activity cease forthwith until the problem has, in fact, been overcome in such a way that satisfies the Minister that it will not occur again.” Mr Tersteeg claimed. “ If such an order was made the mine management would only being paying the price for its own negligence and the pollution of the rivers would not occur, the community would be protected, existing valuable aquaculture activities in the Port Stephens area would be safeguarded and the vital tourist industry would be assured of continuing support for a significant regional activity.” he said.
Members of the community should express their concerns about the proposal to give consent to the pollution of local waterways that will have such far-reaching effects not only to politicians direct but also through the media generally.
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