Lets hope the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s report recommending the Drayton South project go ahead is the the best outcome for our community.
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Having read the report the Department argues strongly that the retracted mine plan, submitted by the mine’s owners Anglo American in April this year offers a solution to the land use conflicts arising from the project.
In December last year the independent Planning and Assessment Commission(PAC) rejected the project on the grounds that it would have adverse impacts on two neighbouring thoroughbred studs Coolmore and Woodland (Darley).
PAC stated at the time that substantial changes would need to be made to the mine plan, including setbacks from the horse studs,to ensure it did not affect their operations.
The Department considers the retracted mine plan makes a number of substantial concessions to address the PAC’s recommendations.
But it goes onto say in the report the retracted mine is not entirely consistent with the PAC’s recommendations.
One may ask the question then why have a PAC review of the project if the Department does not accept their recommendations?
On the one hand the Government touts the fact they have PAC because it is independent and then on the over their government department do not follow PAC’s recommendations.
We understand the jobs of 500 mineworkers hang in the balance if the Drayton South project is not given the green light.
But so might the workers on the two horse studs and other workers in the Upper Hunter equine industry if the mine goes ahead.
Reading the report one felt the city centric attitude of the Department. It was evident the writers had little understanding of the behaviour of livestock in particular thoroughbred horses.
Lets hope the Department’s views are correct that open cut mining and horse breeding can co-exist because if they don’t, should the horse breeding industry leave our valley then when mining ceases we have few options left for our economic survival.
The Drayton South project according to the Department will extract 100million tonnes of coal at a rate of 7mt/year.
By our rough calculations thats around 14 years of coal production.What then for our economy - a question which must be addressed.
