I was totally shattered to hear about Greg Hunts approval of the Shenhua Watermark mine.
In this day and age where there is a global divestment in coal occurring, our government has decided it is acceptable to risk some of the most productive farmland in Australia.
What an irresponsible decision, when our nation is set to be the food bowl of Asia. We know that the Liverpool Plains can continue to produce clean food for domestic and export markets for thousands of years.
After 30 years, what will this coal mine have given future generations of Australians? This is a short sighted decision made for a quick buck, and I am determined to join those in the area in fighting for what's important to ALL Australians - sustainable agriculture!
My opinion of the BHP Caroona mine is along the same lines as that of the Shenhua Watermark project. Mining in this area is just too risky.
We are so lucky to live where we do - we have an abundance of clean underground water which enables us to grow whatever we like, and get two crops a year. There are very few places in Australia where you can farm like this.
The BHP mine is a longwall underground mine - the concern here is that they have no idea what will happen when they start digging. No one has ever mined in an area with black soils and an interconnected aquifer system like the Liverpool Plains.
They are literally going in blind and that just cannot be acceptable. If the aquifers at Caroona are disturbed, water supplies miles away could be affected.
My other concern as a young person in the area is this "promise" of local employment. The Werris Creek mine, along with a number of mines in the Hunter, have been laying off staff.
With a number of skilled miners out of work, I cannot believe that less experienced locals would be given precedence when it comes to jobs.
Businesses in town may benefit if the mine goes ahead, but what about in 30 years time when the mines life is finished and there is no agricultural industry left here?