The issue of the deed of agreement has completely squashed any faith the Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association had in the word of the mining company.
President of the association Stewart Mitchell said a Non Disturbance Area (NDA) states that development such as agricultural and surface mining is prohibited.
Mr Mitchell said the company has told the community representatives at a recent community consultative committee meeting that the reason for a request to mine in the NDA is because the area has become economical.
“They won’t go underground because they can’t get the optimum amount of access to seams – it is all about getting the maximum dollars and it doesn’t matter what they destroy in the process,” Mr Mitchell said.
A Coal and Allied spokesperson told the Singleton Argus that when establishing non-disturbance areas their intention is to provide biodiversity options that provide ‘like for like’ environmental offsets during the life of the mines.
“However when the life of the mine changes we do not change this commitment (and) instead look for further ‘like for like’ offset areas to maintain our approach to biodiversity,” the spokesperson said.
In response to the association’s queries about taking the extension underground, the spokesperson said that due to the size and location of the coal seams, much of the coal could not be recovered by underground mining methods.
This confirms Mr Mitchell’s understanding that the company will go for the optimum extraction.
“Just for the sake of gaining access to a few extra seams, this company is sacrificing our environment,” Mr Mitchell said.
The decision on the proposal will lie with the Department of Planning and Singleton Council once the company completes the Environmental Assessment. An amendment to the Singleton Local Environment Plan would be required to rezone the lands environmental protection.
Precious sands under threat
MEMBERS of the Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association were told by Coal and Allied that they would not provide funds for an independent body to look at the company’s environmental assessment before it is submitted to the Department of Planning.
The association put in the request to the company and instead representatives from Coal and Allied were sent to attend the associations meeting last night and listen to their concerns.
On Wednesday a spokesperson for the company told The Singleton Argus the company will take the association’s questions on board to follow up from the meeting with further information.
“We aim to be able to continue ongoing dialogue with all our near neighbours. For us this will be a listening meeting,” the spokesperson said.
The association is also holding their breath awaiting results from the University of New England’s progress report on the research into re-establishing the Warkworth Sands Woodlands.
Expecting to get this update at the last community consultative meeting, members are now concerned that the data will be provided after the extension’s environmental assessment has gone on public exhibition, leaving them limited time to compile a submission.
“We only have six weeks to piece a submission together once it is with the department and if we don’t get the research information until late in that period we won’t have enough time to thoroughly include it in our submission,” Mr Mitchell said.
The research into the re-location commenced in 2008 and will continue for five years.
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