HUNDREDS of protesters flooded the streets of Gunnedah to rally against Shenhua's plans for the Liverpool Plains, as the Chinese miners seek approval for what would be the first large-scale open-cut coal operation among some of the nation's most fertile farming country.
"This is the wrong mine in the wrong place", was the catchcry from rally leaders who add- ressed the crowd of more than 200 people assembled outside the Services Club before the Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC) sat for a public hearing.
Shenhua's controversial plans are for a mine in the ridges above the plains, about 30 kilometres south of town.
This was the first time concerned community members had a chance to address the arbiters in the planning process.
More than 50 people spoke at the hearing, listing a litany of complaints against the Watermark project.
Farmers' fears centred on potential harm to land and water resources, noise, dust, and their lack of faith in the NSW's government's integrity.
Shenhua remained silent.
Its response was in the plans it had presented to the department in its environmental impact statement (EIS).
The EIS argued the proponent's point of view, advocating its compliance with regulations and pitching its benefits to the State.
Several pro-mining lobbyists made presentations.
The Gunnedah Mining Support Group's Colleen Fuller, also a Gunnedah Shire councillor, was broadly representative.
She argued mining brought prosperity to town, encouraged young people to stay and supplemented agriculture's economic input during downturns.
She pointed to coal mining's century-old heritage in the district and said agriculture and mining "must learn to work together" in the future.
Another councillor, and Caroona Coal Action Group spokesman, Tim Duddy, vehemently opposed the project.
He cited several studies commissioned by the group, which he said demonstrated the EIS didn't meet the required standards.
"The EIS raises more questions than it answers," he said.
Mr Duddy said predicted groundwater impacts were "just plain wrong" and "economic modelling is flawed".
He asked the panel members to reflect on how history would judge them if they approved the project and said investment in agriculture was stymied by current uncertainty.
"People will ask 'whatever were they doing when they decided to do that?'," he said.
"You have the option to apply the precautionary principle.
"If you make that decision you will see agriculture like you have never seen before."
NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson is firmly opposed to the mine.
Ms Simson told the PAC Shenhua had failed to meet several requirements stipulated by the planning approval process.
Consideration of the potential impacts to agricultural production had been erroneously restricted to the area within the Watermark project boundary.
"There is an unwavering focus on Shenhua-owned land," she said.
Ms Simson said the EIS compared Watermark's average economic output with that of agriculture - but failed to compare agriculture's long-term sustainability with Watermark's "finite life span".
Jim Hunt, Hunt Ag Solutions, said the Liverpool Plains was "by far the most productive grain growing area in Australia".
"These resources have the capacity to generate income for hundreds of years."
Mike Foley
Senior journalist for The Land.
Senior journalist for The Land.
