Not happy one would guess – well, that’s how the Shore family of Bulga feel about what was supposed to be their dream home.

Before Mel and Peter Shore bought their three-hectare property on the outskirts of Bulga in 2007, they went to Singleton Council to find out exactly what was planned for the district.

They also contacted the Mine Subsidence Board to see what impact mining had on the block and were advised they would need to build a house on piers not on a concrete slab.

Armed with the information from council and the board, the couple went ahead with their purchase and built their home.

Today, they have a beautiful home which they describe as un-saleable and, in any case, Mrs Shore said should they find a buyer that person would be buying their problem.

“From all our due diligence we understood Rio Tinto’s Mount Thorley Warkworth (MTW) could never mine Saddleback Ridge because of the 2003 Deed of Agreement protected that area in perpetuity,” she said.

“We felt given this deed that buying the land and then building our home we would not be adversely affected by the mine.

 “Wrong, absolutely wrong.”

When Rio Tinto initially gained approval for the Warkworth expansion that included the mining of Saddleback Ridge in 2012, the Shores began 

discussions with the company for their property to be acquired.

In three years of negotiations with the company, they have been unable to have their property acquired despite the fact that a neigbouring property only 70m away has been offered acquisition rights.

These negotiations were started before the couple’s two children Sullivan, 3, and Maycae, 1, were born.

“We have really tried to negotiate with Rio Tinto to acquire our home - why would 70m make any difference to the impacts of dust and noise,” an exasperated Mrs Shore said.

“Living here now is impossible and with the new plans bringing the mine to within about 2.8km of our home, we are putting our children’s health at risk.

“Our home is literally blanketed in black dust, our tank water is polluted, and our children can’t play outside without getting covered in dust.”

Mrs Shore said she wasn’t anti-mining, adding she has previously worked at MTW.

But, she is simply frustrated with the current planning laws and how something that was to be protected in perpetuity is now to be mined.

The courts say it’s to be protected and that’s ignored and then some arbitrary line on a map decides who is in an acquisition zone and who is not – what is my family supposed to do, she said.

“People around here have been treated very badly by governments – our lives don’t matter,” she said.

So desperate to sell their home, the couple has dropped the price by $100,000 and still no one comes.

In fact, in the three years the property has been on the market, only one prospective buyer has made a property inspection.

“Google Bulga and all you see are mine stories – who would want to live in this place,” she said.

Adding to the family’s frustration is the fact that Glencore’s Bulga mine, which is much further away than MTW was legally required to, carry out mitigation work on their home.

“How does that make sense?” Mrs Shore said.

“Bulga was happy to do the work but their mine is not our problem; our problems come from MTW.”

Now, after three years of frustration and heartache, Mrs Shore wants the upcoming Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC) into the Warkworth Mount Thorley mine expansion to try and find a solution for their family.

Coal & Allied spokesperson said “Mount Thorley Warkworth mine is committed to using a range mitigation measures to ensure that its operations stay within its consent conditions. These include best practice real time monitoring systems, dust suppression systems on haul roads and mining equipment as well as community response officers who constantly monitor on site and in the surrounding community.

“There are several mining operations in the area around Bulga and the NSW Government Voluntary Acquisition and Mitigation Policy is used to determine which properties are entitled to acquisition rights for each mine.  

“While their property does not trigger acquisition entitlements under the NSW Government policy, we met with Mr and Mrs Shore as it was important for us to hear their concerns first-hand and to explain the acquisition process.” 

The PAC is accepting submissions on the department’s Assessment Report until 5pm on Tuesday, June 9.