MEMBERS of the Singleton Shire Healthy Environment Group are outraged they were not invited to appear before a Senate Committee.
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The six member committee, which is coming to Newcastle next Tuesday, is investigating the impacts on health of air quality in Australia.
Chaired by Western Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert the committee received 150 submissions from organisations, government, businesses and individuals from throughout the country.
One of the submissions the committee received came from the Singleton Shire Healthy Environment Group.
Vocal air quality campaigner and member Lyn MacBain described her group as the most successful lobbying organisation in the region.
“It’s a slap in the face for the group being ignored like this by the committee,” she said.
“We were formed four years ago in response to community concerns about air quality.
“We should have been invited to the hearing, our voice should have been the first one the senators heard from.”
Fellow member John Drinan said the committee’s hearing should have taken place in Singleton.
“Singleton is the epi-centre of air quality problems so its disgraceful they are not coming here to see the problems first hand,” Dr Drinan said.
He also described the group as the most active in the field and for it not to be invited to speak to the Senators was a travesty.
Dr Drinan said the New South Wales Minerals Council had been invited to speak at the hearing.
“The committee should be listening to everyone if they really want to find out what is happening.
“And the most active group in the region as far as air quality issues are concncerned not being invited - I am not impressed.”
Among the local groups invited to speak at the hearing include the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance and the Hunter Valley Industry Association.
Among the submissions received from local people include those by Dr Tuan Au and Ms Deidre Olofsson.
A spokesman for the office of the Senate Community Affairs Committee told The Argus those selected to speak at the committee’s hearing were those representing environment and industry groups from the Hunter whose submissions represented a range of concerns.
Senator Siewert was not available to comment on the selection process for the Newcastle hearing.
One of the submissions received came from Craig Dalton, a public health physician.
His paper titled “How to investigate the impact of coal mining on community health - a Hunter Valley Perspective” calls for a local planning authority that could balance the many competing land uses and conflicts in the region.
“We need clear regional planning principles and a vision that extends for at least 100 years,” states Dr Dalton.
To view submissions: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees_
