This is a followup on the battle between BHP and farmers on the Liverpool Plains NSW (remember BHP).
The article is self explanatory (early september 2008) and hopefully shows signs of commonsense returning to Government and highlights the "madness of miners". It is not over yet but maybe the tide is turning.
" Dear All
We have had another busy week here up on the Blockade and in 'community' meetings. We have found People Power is the way to go: 70 of us - and 3 sets of media - turned up at the Caroona Hall to shame BHP into a real community meeting on Monday rather than one of their preferred 'divide-and-conquer-drop-in huddles' that the DPI allow.
The gathering was addressed beforehand by Nationals MP, Mark Coulton, on his way to a fact finding visit to the Blockade. Mr Coulton also reiterated his support for the independent, catchment-wide water study in Parliament this month, so the politicians up here are united on one thing at least!
The meeting began farcically with the G.M. of the Caroona coal project initially sitting behind a screen (whilst we all sat on the otherside laughing) and refusing 'to hold a public meeting', but then being gently coaxed out (we don't bite) to face the polite but robust questioning.
The answers were as you might expect. No guarantees about long walling in the future; no guarantees about accepting liability for any damage caused to the Mooki, Quirindi or Yarraman Creeks; no guarantees about the fate of Doona State Forest etc etc. I know you've heard it all before! And when it got a little too hot, the GM said there was ‘no mine’ plan - he didn’t know where any of the infrastructure would go; no, we couldn't have the hydrological data or actually anything that the community wanted. Nor did he know anything about the thermal coal power station at Caroona which his own company identified and received approval for when the exploration licence was granted! "So that would be in contravention of your exploration licence then?" Silence.
The 'community meeting' on Wednesday with Santos in Blackville was at least more professional. Yes, massive gas exploration is being tried here too. Didn't really want to answer questions on their 'troublesome' project in Indonesia, just chat about the 'jobs for your children' which again brought a lot of laughter. Sometimes if this wasn't so serious it really would be funny watching the lies, half-truths and general spin to make black = white.
On Friday, Jock Laurie from the NSW Farmers addressed the Blockade and basically said the only way forward was People Power. Which we sort of know because before the Blockade all our rational meetings and letters and presentations got us nowhere. Then we found People Power!! Which brings us to our next event, a rally in Gunnedah to be addressed by MPs
Tony Windsor, Lee Rhiannon and others so that we can express our disgust with this government and its devil-may-care attitude to food and water security. Oh and the Mining Conference is on at the same time across the road. *Anyone who wants to join us is very welcome, 8am outside Town Hall Gunnedah, Tuesday 16th September! Bring your NO MINE sign and join us for our early morning party! Thanks!*
Finally, we've had the first respondent from our balloon release on Monday - to show how far coal dust also travels - and a balloon has been found 235km away in Kempsey (NSW coast) within 72hrs. Whilst this is faster than rural post (I kid you not), there is no truth in the rumour that we have also found one on Mars.
Thank you all for your interest in our fight for this country, and for your emails and messages of support, they are truly appreciated by us all.
Kind regards
Pauline