Claytons environment minister (the environment minister you have when you don’t have an environment minister) Greg Hunt’s pathetic decision to approve the Shenhua coal mine on the Liverpool Plains is yet another attack on our farmers, farmland, woodland, native animals and scarce fresh water supplies.
While the mine will not be located on the black soil, the close proximity on nearby hills and ridges means that surface and underground water contaminated by the toxic carcinogenic hydrocarbons will flow into the farm land aquifers.
Shenhua has over-exploited groundwater in China and dumped industrial waste water in inner Mongolia. China has a poor record of toxicity in agriculture in its own country, yet the Liberal National Party is content to allow the threat on land with the world’s best soils and pristine waters.
Having recently signed the flawed ‘Free’ Trade Agreement with China, it seems the government is willing to trade off Australia’s most treasured natural assets, to placate the Chinese government.
The so called science used to justify this act of treason is a sham.
Huge political donations to the LNP and ALP by mining companies and the jobs for the boys culture bestowed on ex politicians and public servants has resulted in the two large political parties giving open slather to allowing the CSG and coal mining companies pillage our country, despite the wishes of the Australian public.
The NSW government is complicit in this treachery also, as it has been with the Leard Forest destruction, and the betrayal if the people of Bulga in the Hunter Valley.
After the Bulga community winning two different court cases, the government changed the laws to suit the Rio Tinto expansion plans. (The name Rio Tinto, Portuguese for the Red River where the company commenced operations in Spain. The red colour derived from the original toxic mining operations!)
Destroying our country for short term greed is unacceptable. The fact that most of the profits relating to coal mining and CSG go offshore shows even more stupidity.
Ken Brown, Invergowrie, NSW
