THE upstairs function room at the Singleton Diggers Alroy complex was hot, crowded and guarded by police when the Planning Assessment Commission’s hearing into the Warkworth and Mt Thorley Continuation Projects began at 8.30am yesterday.
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Rio Tinto’s Coal Australia managing director Chris Salisbury was the first to address the commission but it was the poignant speech of Bulga resident and mineworker Paul Harris that summed up the situation.
Bulga has been his home for 54 years, the home of his family for five generations and Mr Harris has worked at MTW for three decades.
When PAC hands down their decision on whether or not the Mt Thorley Warkworth (MTW) extension will go ahead, it will mean he either keeps his job or his home.
His plight highlights how the planning system has failed him, his employer and his community.
“You have to realise I am in a lose/lose situation, if this is not approved I lose my job,” Mr Harris explained to the Commissioners.
“If it goes ahead I lose my home and my quality of life.
“I built a house and made it a home and I am getting sick and tired of trying to defend from a multinational company and the state government, who don’t seem to care for the community of Bulga.”
He then went on to describe what it is like having MTW for a neighbour.
From having to put up with the vibrations and ground movement from regular shots, and the toxic plumes of sulphur dioxide from a “damp shot” to the dust the mine can’t control – he painted a grim picture.
But most importantly he pointed out approvals don’t necessarily equal job security, sighting the recent job losses at BHP’s Mt Arthur mine, which were announced after their expansion plans were given the green light.
And, that if approved, the expansion will leave a 950-hectare final void.
“The final void this mine will leave covers an area of 950 hectares,” Mr Harris said.
“If they are going to create a void like this while reaping the benefits, then they must fill it back in.
“If this is approved I would like to see the PAC put on a condition that this must be done, to restore the landscape and keep a few people employed after the mine ceases to operate.”
Mr Harris described himself as being “lucky” because his home is located in the acquisition zone but he wanted to speak out against the approval for his neighbours whose homes and farms are just across the road but do not have to be acquired.
As he knows all too well a line on a map does not stop dust, noise or visual impacts.
