Police Operation Underway at Maryland, Residents Warned to Stay Inside and Avoid the Area

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man has reportedly surrendered himself to Police, following a large scale police operation in Maryland. 

There were reports a man was refusing to leave his home on Warkworth Street off Minmi Road.

The street, and surrounding streets have been closed by tactical response units. 

Wallsend state Labor MP Sonia Hornery issued a warning to residents on Facebook.


She wrote, “Please avoid the area and if you live in the area, remain inside with your doors locked."

Mining Joint Venture In The Wings

BY IAN CROUCH

An extra 250 jobs could be created if plans are approved for a new open cut mine near Singleton.

The United and Wambo Mines are looking to establish a joint venture on a project at Warkworth which would see 10-million tonnes of coal mined over more than 2 decades if it's given the green light.

The Environmental Impact Statement is now on public display until September 22.

Bulga Road protest against Warkworth coal mine

BY JARROD MELMETH

Bulga residents are hopeful of a strong show of public support for their daily protest vigil at the Warkworth coal mine.

Residents have been protesting daily next to Rio Tinto's coal mine, which has approval from the NSW Government to expand towards the town, through a bush land area of high importance to the Wonnarua Aboriginal people, and through the convict-built Wallaby Scrub Road.

The expansion was approved by the NSW Government last November following a campaign by local residents against the project that lasted six years.

Bulga Resident Rob McLaughlin says the way the community has been treated by Rio Tinto and the NSW Government is disgusting.

"Two courts have forensically examined the application of Rio Tinto and said the project should not proceed."

"We are here today to stand up and say this should not be happening. This expansion of the mine will see the decimation of our historic town"

The mine has seen two court cases against its approval. The government has since re-approved the mine, and removed local residents' right to challenge the merits of that decision in court.

EPA Continues Bengalla Investigation

The Environment Protection Authority is continuing its investigations in to the Rio Tinto owned Bengalla mine, near Musswellbrook.

The overflow follows heavy rainfall in the Hunter earlier this month.

EPA officers began interviews on Monday, while also carrying out an inspection and gathering water and sediment samples for testing.

So far, no pollution to water sources has been found.

EPA Hunter General Manger, Adam Gilligan says both parties have been able to coperate.

"Our officers worked with the mine on Monday and were pleased to see that they commenced dewatering of those dams so that they could get the water levels down.

"Particularly that's important before any further rainfall or storm event that might cause further overflowing."

A section of Bengalla's sediment dam

The EPA have also confirmed they are looking for additional information from the mine operator, including monitoring records and incident response details.

It's the third Hunter mine this month which has seen overflowing, with Warkworth mine (also Tinto owned) and Wambo mine being investigated for potential pollution.

"Certainly [it's] a concern to us that we've had a spade of these issues arising following the recent heavy rainfall" said Mr. Gilligan.

"What concern's us is making sure the sediment dames, etc on mine sites are constructed properly."

Image courtesy of John Crey, via The Singleton Argus (LINK).