Muswellbrook Mayor Not Satisfied With Just a Fine

BY TYLER FARDELL


The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) recently fined BHP Billiton $15 thousand dollars for exceeding the air pollution guidelines at their Mount Arthur coalmine and while Muswellbrook mayor Martin Rush says it's the right idea, it's not enough.

Its not the first time the EPA have fined BHP over air pollution from the mine with incidents occurring in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

The latest fine occurred after a witness reported of excess dust blowing across a road near Muswellbrook.

All mines must comply with rules and regulations to limit and control dust generation at all times but Mr Rush says BHP is simply ignoring these rules.

"They have (BHP) continually ignored the regulations for dust pollution and it's simply not good enough", he said.

"The air shed is already at capacity in the area and residents would suffer if the Mount Arthur mine continues to operate as it currently does".

Mr Rush is calling for the government to step in and take action, otherwise the situation will remain unchanged.

"BHP make tens of millions of dollars every month so a few fines ranging from $15000 to $1500 aren't going to stop anything. They need to have their mining licence suspended so a more environmentally aware company can take over".

Mount Arthur Coal Mine
Photo Source; Newcastle Herald

Bylong coal mine project could devastate Hunter environment

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Plans for the new Bylong Coal Project between Denman and Mudgee have been dealt yet another blow with the Planning Assessment Commission (PCA) slamming the project.

The PAC report on the KEPCO coal mine project slammed it for gaps in evidence and high levels of uncertainty, particularly about the potential cumulative impacts on the Bylong Valley and the community. The report also flagged numerous issues with water access, protection of surrounding agriculture and incomplete information.

There are particular concerns for the Hunter Valley from the Lock the Gate Alliance who say the scathing review revealed the Bylong coal project would directly open cut rich farmland in the Hunter and severely impact Tarwyn Park.

NSW Greens energy and resources spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham says the mine will destroy ecologically and environmentally important areas throughout the Hunter and the state.

"The area must be protected for its agriculture and tourism value plus its environmental values in an age of climate change the greens do not believe we should be opening up new coal mines in NSW."

If approved the mine will extract a total of 124 million tonnes, roughly 6.5 million each year, from both open cut operations and underground. Jeremy Buckingham is urging the government to reconsider the mine and realise just how much it will wreck the Bylong Valley, its community and the surrounds.

"The Bylong Valley must be protected, it's important, ecological,, agricultural, and our tourism assets will be destroyed by this stupid coal mine. We have major climate change and we do not need to be opening coal mines, the Greens are calling on the government to cancel their exploration licence  and give the people, the Bylong Valley and NSW certainty that that region will be protected from destructive coal mining."