tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48682084605665879512024-03-05T19:26:50.342+11:00A Clarence Valley ProtestProtecting the Clarence River and its tributaries.
http://aclarencevalleyprotest.blogspot.com/Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-13901283470559977712013-11-08T19:26:00.000+11:002013-11-08T19:32:26.177+11:00WATER MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD<div class="WordSection1">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7 November 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Di Clark for Blicks River Guardians </span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>WATER MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blicks River Guardians have launched their new website <a href="http://www.blicksriverguardians.org/">www.blicksriverguardians.org</a> to tell of their love for the Dorrigo Plateau and their pledge to protect it from inappropriate land use. At stake is a clean water supply for communities from Sawtell to Yamba, a clean environment for the flora and fauna of this area and a place for our children and grandchildren to use in a sustainable way. We thank Alan Morden, art director and consultant from Byron Bay, for the donation of his time and expertise in website design. We also thank local photographers for allowing us to use their beautiful photographs and videos (see Acknowledgements on the website).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The major potential threats to the Blicks River at present are active mineral exploration leases near Tyringham and Dundurrabin operated by Scorpio Resources Pty Ltd, a full subsidiary company of Anchor Resources. Diamond drilling has recommenced in the area and will consist of up to 8 holes for approximately 2,000m. Anchor is currently exploring in this area for large intrusion-related gold systems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In last week’s Don Dorrigo Gazette there was an article on the history of antimony mining at Wild Cattle Creek. This area too is being explored by Anchor Resources. The movement of surface water dropping from the Plateau to lower river systems may contribute to cumulative impacts downstream. Historically the processing of antimony and other minerals has had a negative impact on areas such as Urunga.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blicks River Guardians are a sub-group of Dorrigo Environment Watch <a href="http://www.dorrigoenvironmentwatch.org.au/">www.dorrigoenvironmentwatch.org.au</a>; together we hope to enable a well-informed public to express the beauty and timelessness of this area and protect it for future generations. We invite visitors to our website to make comments, download petition pages for signatures, suggest ways they can help and to advise us if they want to be added to our mailing list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dorrigo Environment Watch recently held an information session on the NSW Government Strategic Regional Land Use Policy to advise landholders of recent developments. “Prime Agricultural Land” on the Dorrigo plateau was vastly underestimated due to restrictive criteria such as the slope of the land. One look at those rolling hills, lush from high summer rainfall grown on the famous Dorrigo soil, would tell anyone that their zoning criteria are inadequate. If these maps are used for mining exclusion areas then they are not good enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visit our websites and join in celebrating this beautiful area – water is more precious than gold (or antimony!).</span><o:p></o:p></span>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-40810586543746259382013-07-10T08:26:00.001+10:002013-07-10T08:26:30.510+10:00Raiding our northern rivers <div class="WordSection1">
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Letter to the Editor, <b><a href="http://www.northernstar.com.au/">The Northern Star</a></b>, 10 July 2013:<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<b><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Raiding our rivers <o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">ON June 26 the NSWLC Standing Committee on State Development published a report Adequacy of water storages in New South Wales. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">This report recommended that the NSW Government "review the environmental flow allocations for all valleys in New South Wales and make representations to the Commonwealth Government for it to review the environmental flow allocations for all valleys in New South Wales in relation to the Murray Darling Basin Plan" and told the government that "the priority given to environmental needs above water supply to industry and high security needs in regulated rivers under the Water Management Act 2000 is not sufficiently balanced" and recommended that it change this act to prioritise these other needs above environmental needs. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The committee that produced this report was dominated by the Liberal-Nationals Coalition and its oft-times ally, the Christian Democratic Party, so it should come as no surprise that the advice received by the O'Farrell Government heavily favours the interests of both irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin and the mining industry as it does not rule out damming and diverting water from the Northern Rivers to feed the insatiable water hunger of these two groups. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">It is a general rule of thumb that it requires 1 to 2 tonnes of water to process 1 tonne of mined ore (USGS, 2012) and an individual coal seam gas well can require up to 1 million litres of drilling water (Metgasco, January 2013). <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Irrigation water for crops can range from 2 to 5.5 million litres per hectare as a minimum to bring a crop to maturity in this state (NSW Dept Primary Industry, 2009). <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The amount of water that would have to be drawn from the Clarence River systems to meet even part of what these two groups desire would potentially impact on the health of local rivers, local water security, local agriculture, local economies dependant on the fishing industry and tourism industries and the social and cultural life of local communities. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Tweed and Richmond valley communities would possibly have similar concerns. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">It would be useless to look to the North Coast Nationals to protect Northern Rivers interests, as the NSW National Party has never walked away from its 2008 state conference resolution to "support greater efforts to reduce the amount of eastern water lost to the ocean and campaign for more in-depth investigations into finding ways to turn this water inland" (My Daily News online, June 16, 2008). <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">It would also be useless to look to the Liberal Party to protect our interests, as the Upper House committee's recommendations echo the 2007 Howard-Turnbull push to dam and divert fresh water from the Clarence River catchment area and, the current Federal Opposition favours a "100 dams" plan according to a leaked draft discussion paper which makes mention of the Clarence and Mann rivers (The Daily Examiner, February 14, 2013). <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Once again the Northern Rivers region is going to have to rely on its own community resources and lobbying abilities to combat any attempt to raid our river systems. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Now is the time to organise and act. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Judith M Melville<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Yamba <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-29142921239599501522013-07-04T14:56:00.000+10:002013-07-04T15:01:01.340+10:00Anchor Resources extends its mining exploration footprint within the Clarence River catchment area<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chinese-owned
mining exploration company <b>Anchor Resources
Limited</b> has extended its mineral tenements within the Dorrigo
Plateau-Clarence River catchment area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In June 2013
the NSW O’Farrell Coalition Government granted a further <a href="http://www.anchorresources.com/New_Exploration_Licence.pdf">three-year
exploration lease EL 8100</a> which connects those <a href="http://www.anchorresources.com/index.php/projects/nsw/blicks-nsw/">gold</a>
and <a href="http://www.anchorresources.com/index.php/projects/nsw/bielsdown-nsw/">antimony</a>
tenements the company has already extensively explored. <o:p></o:p></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5DN3kLy1-p8VxhPg3W77JSuDgpOX9o59fSucHVfi_-DARdspIKhJ1abYRDDm1Kst7upueSwh4UfQQQMgbd7kQxA-h884Equiim_mr0I6MfA4NRydl9X8ZNfP3lAokUGaIA47zJr5cd_Y/s1600/Blicks_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="740" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5DN3kLy1-p8VxhPg3W77JSuDgpOX9o59fSucHVfi_-DARdspIKhJ1abYRDDm1Kst7upueSwh4UfQQQMgbd7kQxA-h884Equiim_mr0I6MfA4NRydl9X8ZNfP3lAokUGaIA47zJr5cd_Y/s640/Blicks_map.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This increased footprint comes with an increased risk of antimony, arsenic, and/or mercury contamination in a sensitive section of the catchment should the proposed commercial mines come to fruition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Australian Government <b><i>National Pollutant Inventory</i></b>:</span><br />
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<b><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #4a4e47; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://www.npi.gov.au/substances/mercury/environmental.html">Both mercury and its compounds have high acute(short-term) and have high chronic (long-term) toxicity on aquatic life. Eating fish contaminated with mercury has caused poisoning in humans; birds and land animals exposed in the same manner could also be subject to the same effects.There is not sufficient data to determine the acute toxicity of mercury and its compounds on plants, birds or land animals. Mercury and its compounds are highly persistent in water and the environment and will bioaccumulate or concentrate in the tissues of fish. These concentrations will be considerably higher than the water from which the fish is taken.</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-56017739801942323092013-02-28T13:33:00.000+11:002013-02-28T13:49:45.784+11:00Ibbotson's proposal to dam the Clarence River does not impress<div class="WordSection1">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hot on the heels of an <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/11/13/3631820.htm">unforgivably uninformed suggestion</a> from NSW Governor Marie Bashir that Clarence River catchment freshwater be diverted into the Darling River system, the Northern Rivers now has this latest attempt to revive the dam debate.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Page One of the Ibbotson advertisement</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On 22 February 2013 <b><i>The Daily Examiner</i></b> ran a four-page advertisement by former Murray-Darling Basin resident, self-styled </span><a href="http://archive.premier.vic.gov.au/your-voice/climate-change-green-paper/8465-transforming-our-cities-and-towns.html"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scientist (metallurgy & computing)</span></i></b></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: clear;"> - </span>who also happens to be a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Heartland_Institute">US Heartland Institute</a> endorsed <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:WqGxs_Vbpe8J:aefweb.info/data/ibbottsonreview.pdf+&hl=en&gl=au&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiZwV6keP1qzCJacyxejCQ_OarmjFgrSaIgh8eDNg5VH76bmE884BfIBvaIiF6kSczcPiwck9TzEX8YmsyCSMu2NeI29VaURiKqkv39gH9QvcNKtGoB2KbnZeSXPnO93BIB8vBY&sig=AHIEtbQ_PUusUhjpRbvYkG-qkN3JUIYNgw">climate change denying</a>, enthusiastic supporter of </span><a href="http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=ra/murraydarling/subs/sub158.pdf"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">damming and diverting</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the Clarence River to inland NSW – <b>John Ibbotson</b> of Gulmarrad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Ibbotson has obviously decided that<span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span>media reports of Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s <b><i>‘100 Dams’</i></b> draft document (</span><a href="http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/saffin-defends-clarence-slams-coalitions-dam-ideas/1756182/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which includes the Clarence and Mann rivers</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) gives him the opportunity to push his own dam plan once more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This time the self-named <b><i>Ibbo’s Dam</i></b> still includes a hydro-electric scheme as part of the dam infrastructure, but is without the option to divert water into the Murray-Darling river systems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, Ibbotson happily suggests that placing a throttle on the flow regime of three major rivers (Clarence, Mann and Nymboida) by placing a dam at the top of the Clarence River Gorge (thereby also effectively destroying this gorge), permanently flooding the lower reaches of the Mann River, potentially compromising the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXFcdqiDu6nJgW8-lCkNCQi17P_oFxlhSBbcNVJOG5F_Zunl42i_fKnMrQaEdX5NgfOeAHD4iz7ZINtozXK0anxSxz5XkiIm7x67NjZuwbCGkycHpynfzhurQjaWOxxBY6ylhWfY0ZLQV/s1600-h/map-e-cod.gif">last known wild population of Eastern (Freshwater) Cod</a>, changing the water temperature in a section of the river<span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span>below the proposed dam/hydro scheme, reducing annual inflows into the lower river and reducing the frequency of ‘freshes’<span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span>reaching the estuary (relied on by a local commercial fishing industry<span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span>worth an estimated $92 million annually) are great ideas.<span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this advertisement he fails to consider the impact his hydroelectric scheme would have on Essential Energy's existing hydroelectric plant on the Nymboida River or on existing tourism and farming businesses in the areas his scheme intends to flood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Additionally, he entirely fails to explain how such a dam would help mitigate Clarence Valley flooding beyond wishfully asserting that it will.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is </span><a href="http://aclarencevalleyprotest.blogspot.com.au/2007/07/clarence-dam.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a mock-up</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of a Clarence River dam posted on <b><i>A Clarence Valley Protest</i></b> in 2007:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Exz_mfAVPnXeNq7HFjrgmUAlWw1rX7SpaG5sbvopqLB6qF4etB0tX3O82_7eppV98976KFBuNg_wFSTKuAaamZSpxdlEKXHCHw-IcTvTB-qUl82So5qUW8D3RqWwOC2mS3ZBCmWMHtlw/s1600/image002-715064.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="430" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5849153675568504850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Exz_mfAVPnXeNq7HFjrgmUAlWw1rX7SpaG5sbvopqLB6qF4etB0tX3O82_7eppV98976KFBuNg_wFSTKuAaamZSpxdlEKXHCHw-IcTvTB-qUl82So5qUW8D3RqWwOC2mS3ZBCmWMHtlw/s640/image002-715064.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the Clarence River Gorge in 2011:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d;"><a href="http://youtu.be/DKRubtXrhY0">http://youtu.be/DKRubtXrhY0</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here are letters to the editor published in <b><i>The Daily Examiner</i></b> on 25 and 27 February 2013:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ads are 'light relief' <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></b></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On 18 September 2012 I had a letter to the editor published in The Daily Examiner on the subject of a "specific call to dam and divert water from the Clarence River catchment area" and "general calls to harvest water from east coast rivers for use in the Murray Darling Basin" in submissions before the NSW Legislative Council Standing Committee on State Development's Inquiry Into The Adequacy Of Water Storages in NSW. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On February 22, 2013 I was amused to find this letter selectively quoted in an expensive four-page advertisement created by that ardent climate change denier and supporter of damming and diverting freshwater from the Clarence River catchment into the Murray-Darling Basin, John Ibbotson (Senate Standing Committee of Regional Australia, Water Proofing the Murray-Darling Basin, Submission No. 158, dated received 7 December 2010). <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I chortled when I discovered Mr Ibbotson obviously believed that I read transcripts with my ears and was impressed by the contortions involved in trying to make it appear that my letter ignored the subject of inter-basin water transfer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thank Mr Ibbotson for pointing out to Clarence Valley residents that the O'Farrell Government has no policy to protect the Clarence River from being dammed, even if at the inquiry's 20 August 2012 hearing it was demonstrated that David Harriss of the NSW Office of Water was not in favour of building expensive new dams: <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The Hon. Dr Peter Phelps: Is there any need for new dam building or simply perhaps raising storage capacities of the existing catchments? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr Harriss: I think the issues we have tried to raise in our submission are the billions of dollars invested in major infrastructure now, with both public infrastructure and on-farm infrastructure. I think (the) priority (for) New South Wales is to use that infrastructure as effectively and efficiently as possible in the first instance rather than investing further in up to millions of dollars in capital expenditure." <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the middle of all that wind and rain, Mr Ibbotson offered some welcome light relief and I'll gratefully use his advertisement to wrap my kitchen scraps later today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JUDITH M. MELVILLE<o:p></o:p></span></strong></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yamba </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><em>No need for
stirring </em></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><em>I am writing in response to John Ibbotson's 4 page "story" in
the Examiner (22/02/13). I replied directly to his email (provided in the
story), expressing my concern that his story was lacking figures of the dam
capacity and flood flows to demonstrate how much a major flood could be
minimised. I also expressed my environmental concerns. </em></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><em>John replied with, "I find that facts and figures in an article
tend to result in people's eyes glazing over. This story was meant to be more
of an emotive story..." </em></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><em>When reading his story, I found my own eyes "glazing over", as
the "emotive" often tended to overshadow the substance. This issue
has often been an emotional one, with people on both sides having strong
opinions without many facts. The last thing it needs is another "emotional
stirring" to cause people to feel they must be either for or against a
dam. The issue needs an objective presentation of clear factual data addressing
public concerns. </em></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><em>My concerns include the effects of the cold water releases on the
ecosystem of the river below the dam, and all the way to the ocean. </em></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><em>John addressed environmental concerns in his story with "But it
would ruin the river! I doubt it". Then he was sidetracked discussing
Alaska and barbed wire. </em></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><em>With the help of Landcare, I had a flora and fauna survey conducted on
our property (just below the Gorge), which demonstrated a diverse range of
species including endangered and threatened species. John included a photo of
one of our young cows with her vealer heifer calf in his story. He
sarcastically referred to them as "rare native cowroos", attempting
(I think?) to devalue the importance of the native wildlife, or to prove that
the presence of cattle dramatically reduces the environmental value of the
area? </em></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><em>Another concern is how a hydro-electric dam and a flood mitigation dam
can operate at this site without being in conflict with each other. As locals
know, we also have "dry periods'' where rain events contribute little to
the river system. Electricity generation would require contracts to guarantee
supply to the grid, and therefore need a minimum level in the dam to ensure
this (and allow for dry weather). Calculations need to be made to show a flood
event would not simply top the dam and flood anyway, like Wivenhoe dam did in
2011 in Brisbane. A dam could also turn floods into longer drawn out events,
possibly impacting on lower areas (including Yamba) and beaches for longer. My
great grandfather, Sir Earle Page, had detailed plans drawn up for a "Clarence
river hydro-electric scheme" in the 1940s, but it calculated that many
dams were needed to manage the flows and to guarantee supply.</em></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ROBERT PAGE </span></em></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"Heifer
Station" </em></span></div>
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Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-40344606149548831292012-10-24T04:33:00.000+11:002012-10-24T04:37:54.692+11:00Another gold mining company exploring within the Clarence River catchment in 2012<div class="WordSection1">
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://rcm.com.au/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RENISON CONSOLIDATED MINES</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(formerly known as Sirocco Resources NL, Kakadu Resources Ltd, Gerrod Ltd and Avillion No 4 Ltd) a Brisbane-based corporation first registered in 1986 and primarily involved in gold and coal exploration, has been granted an exploration license in the Timbarra Plateau region on the NSW North Coast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the <b><a href="http://www.colongwilderness.org.au/archive/RedIndex/NSW/timba99.htm">Colong Foundation for Wilderness</a></b>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plateau is detached from the Great Dividing Range, apart from a narrow connecting ridge in the north, and has hence been able to provide a significant refuge for wildlife from human impacts and feral predation. The plateau falls away steeply into the valleys of the Timbarra River and Demon Creek.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The area is a biodiversity hot spot. In the forests of the western sector of the nominated area, 29 endangered species are known to occur. These include: mammals (Hastings River Mouse, Yellow-bellied Glider, Tiger Quoll, Rufous Bettong, Golden-tipped Bat, Greater Broad-nosed Bat and Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby); birds (Glossy Black Cockatoo, Powerful Owl and Sooty Owl); and amphibians (Stuttering Frog, Glandular Frog and recently discovered Peppered Frog). The wilderness contains a major overlap of biogoegraphic zones, with faunal representations of coastal, inland, temperate and sub tropical regions converging. The area is the only single site able to provide key habitat for the threatened Hastings River Mouse, Eastern Chestnut Mouse and Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 98 blocks in this license surround the old Timbarra Gold Mine which was permanently closed in 2001-02 due to persistent cyanide contamination from mine tailing dams which overflowed after rain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The licence also covers part of the Timbarra River catchment which falls within the larger Clarence River Catchment Area.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2011 the Clarence River catchment supplied fresh water to an estimated 52,816 residents living in the Clarence Valley local government area and, to another 73, 296 residents in the Coffs Harbour local government area which is located outside the catchment and historically is provided with a significant measure of water security by the Clarence Valley [Clarence Valley Council,<i>Clarence Valley Economic Monitor</i>,June 2012 and Coffs Harbour City Council,<i>Community Profile,</i>June 2011].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Rennison’s current chair, <b><a href="http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=8709732&ticker=RSN:AU">Stephen Grant Bissell</a></b>, is also a director of Bizzell Capital Partners, Renaissance Uranium, Armour Energy Ltd, Titan Energy Services Ltd, Dart Energy, Diversa Ltd, Stanmore Coal, Hot Rock Ltd, Bow Energy, Celamin Limited, Apollo Gas Limited,</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB">a former director of Arrow Energy and a member of the <a href="http://au.linkedin.com/groups?gid=3428213">Queensland Coal Seam Gas</a> forum.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=%22ela%204513%22&source=web&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CCoQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.resources.nsw.gov.au%2Ftitles%2Fstatus-reports%2FMineralMonthly-ELsCurrent2012-10.pdf&ei=Z6yGUNrgA-iQiAfU1YGwBQ&usg=AFQjCNEinqHCijGSDn0JPSkhWDdj16XqIg"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ELA 4513 (1992) <span style="font-weight: normal;">28-Mar-2012 98 UNITS About 51km WSW of GRAFTON RENISON CONSOLIDATED MINES NL Group: GROUP 1</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHllueK2lTfMXWA09ef7f3bz8odfBpVBxENktApuSRNjOZTnaJsNOaSzGTqQQd1-o3czOPaIm89RCocKlPuB0nf4n8oLCbRjaweRFKpOfe_KalcpE8tplxxI0SEZ3tVk08u72zMY1RvGpy/s1600/ScreenHunter_06+Oct.+24+03.25.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHllueK2lTfMXWA09ef7f3bz8odfBpVBxENktApuSRNjOZTnaJsNOaSzGTqQQd1-o3czOPaIm89RCocKlPuB0nf4n8oLCbRjaweRFKpOfe_KalcpE8tplxxI0SEZ3tVk08u72zMY1RvGpy/s400/ScreenHunter_06+Oct.+24+03.25.gif" width="400" /></a></div><i>Click on map to enlarge</i>
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Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-36461800082839888112012-10-09T03:52:00.000+11:002012-10-09T03:54:14.042+11:00Page MP Janelle Saffin urges late submissions to state inquiry into the adequacy of water storages in New South Wales<div class="WordSection1">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Letter to the Editor in<b><i> <a href="http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/">The Daily Examiner</a></i></b> 6 October 2012:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Not A Drop still holds water <o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b><br />
<b><i><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></u></i></b>
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I have noticed a growing number of correspondents expressing concern about the Clarence River, specifically about those who would dam it and divert our water inland or to Queensland. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I reiterate my rock solid commitment to 'Not A Drop', the slogan we all adopted from The Daily Examiner's highly successful 2007 campaign against such moves. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I simply will not allow it, and the Australian Government, as expressed many times through the Leader of the House Anthony Albanese in Federal Parliament, will not allow it. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I wanted to put this firm policy stance on the public record again, for the benefit of people among us who have moved to the Clarence Valley in recent times. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I am sure that these new residents will be surprised and shocked to hear that many vested interests have tried this on for years. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I have urged locals to make submissions to the NSW Legislative Council's Standing Committee on State Developments' current inquiry into the adequacy of water storages in New South Wales. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">While the closing date for submissions was August 31, the inquiry is prepared to take late submissions for another six weeks. They can be emailed to <a href="mailto:statedevelopment@parliament.nsw.gov.au">statedevelopment@parliament.nsw.gov.au </a><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The primary contact is Cathryn Cummins on 02 9230 3528. I understand the inquiry will hold further publics hearings in Wagga Wagga and Sydney in November and possibly more hearings early next year. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One thing I can be sure of is that there will be some of the regulars who want to raid our water supply - the mighty Clarence. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I call them the River Raiders; they seek every and all opportunity to lay claim to our river. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I thought it was a big worry when the NSW National Party's 2008 State Conference resolved to "support greater efforts to reduce the amount of eastern water lost to the ocean and campaign for more in-depth investigations into finding ways to turn this water inland." - Tweed Daily News, June 16, 2008. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I urge Clarence Valley residents to be watchful of anyone who would have designs on tampering with our most precious natural resource - water. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></i>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Janelle Saffin MP<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Federal Member for Page<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-51946391094321525212012-09-06T16:40:00.020+10:002012-09-06T23:29:18.788+10:00NSWLC Standing Committee On State Development's Inquiry Into The Adequacy Of Water Storages In NSW, 20 August 2012 hearing<div class="WordSection1"><strong><em><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></em></strong><br /><u><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">The Play:</span></u><br /><p></p><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">The future of water storage in New South Wales</span><br /><p></p><u><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">The Sub-Plot:</span></u><br /><p></p><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">That National Party fixation with the Clarence River</span><br /><p></p><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"></span><u><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">The Scene</span></u><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">:</span><br /><p></p><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">Enter from stage right NSW Nationals MLC <b>PETER R. PHELPS. </b></span><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">Followed by <b>DAVID ANDREW HARRISS</b></span><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">, Commissioner, NSW Office of Water, Department of Primary Industries and, </span><b><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">STEWART RICHARD WEBSTER</span></b><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">, Principal Director, Investment Appraisal, Statistical Analysis and Economic Research, NSW Trade and Investment</span><br /><br /><p></p><u><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><a href="http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/6ac13499058f8a04ca257a61000b5801/$FILE/120820%20Uncorrected.pdf">From the hearing transcript</a></span></u><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">:</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">The Hon. Dr PETER PHELPS:</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"> Are there any rivers in northern New South Wales which sow significant outflows of fresh water to the sea which could be used for damming purposes?</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">Mr HARRISS:</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"> The only one that has been investigated over many years was the Clarence River and that has been shown that it would be both uneconomic and have significant environmental impacts as a consequence. One of the things that have been demonstrated for years is coastal diversions. It is all right in the Snarly because you have quite a substantial catchment area and you have a number of sites for dams—Jindabyne, Eucumbene, Talbingo, Bowen. In the coastal ranges further north around the Clarence to get that </span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">catchment area to fill the dam you have to have the dam located further down to get enough water so it cannot be at the top. Further down you locate that dam, the higher the pumping cost to get the water back over the top or the tunnelling cost to get it through the dam. For that reason it has shown that it would not be economically beneficial to construct a dam to divert water from the coastal side into the western side because there would be no activity currently which would generate revenue on the megalitre of water……..</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">The Hon. Dr PETER PHELPS:</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"> Presumably, given what Mr Harriss said earlier about us having dammed every river in New South Wales that it is economically viable to dam, those proposals would be only catchment augmentation.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">Mr WEBSTER:</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"> What was economically viable 30 years ago might not be now because the value of water changes as an input into various primary production processes. While it appears that the large storage sites have been taken, there may be opportunities.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">The Hon. Dr PETER PHELPS: </span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">Just not on the Clarence River.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">Mr HARRISS:</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"> There are opportunities on the Clarence River. What was proposed during the drought—and Malcolm Turnbull promoted it—was to build that dam but then to pipe the water up to south-west Queensland, not to move it into western New South Wales, which was the original proposal. That might have been a bit more economically viable if we were recovering the cost through urban population charges as opposed to the rate charged per kilolitre. However, Queensland was not remotely interested in that. There are some sites, and we mentioned Birrell Creek dam, which is not a big site. There is also the Welcome Reef site near Braidwood. That proposal has been around for about 40 or 50 years. There are some sites. However, the point was made that where it was easy to build a dam 50 or 60—</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">The Hon. Dr PETER PHELPS:</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"> So the low hanging fruit is gone.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">Mr HARRISS:</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"> Yes.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></i></p></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-83730600828591919812012-07-26T10:24:00.010+10:002012-08-14T15:16:17.680+10:00Metgasco CSG waste water contaminated with salt and heavy metals<div class="WordSection1"><br /><i><a href="http://coalseamgasnews.org/2012/high-levels-of-heavy-metals-found-in-metgasco-wastewater/">Coal Seam Gas News</a></i> 26 July 2012<span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Lock the Gate Northern Rivers has today revealed that a sample of wastewater from a Metgasco coal seam gas wastewater storage pond has been found to contain high levels of a range of heavy metals toxic to humans and wildlife. The sample was analysed at the NATA accredited EAL laboratory in Lismore (<a href="http://www.csgfreenorthernrivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/CSG_wastewater_test_results.pdf">sample results </a>and comparison with Drinking Water and ANZECC Environmental Guidelines attached).</span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">This finding follows on from repeated claims by Metgasco that their CSG produced water is just ‘salty’ and the release of company data last week suggesting that, apart from the salt levels, the water meets drinking water standards.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">‘These pond sample results confirm that there are indeed a range of toxic substances in addition to salts in the wastewater produced in Metgasco’s coal seam gas operations and stored in ponds around Casino,’ said Boudicca Cerese, spokesperson for Lock the Gate Northern Rivers. </span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">‘The tests found 13 elements present in the sample at levels above the Drinking Water Standards, the majority of them heavy metals. Ten of these substances were also above the allowable limits for maintenance of healthy freshwater ecosystems.’</span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">‘Many of these substances are well known for their toxicity and their release into local waterways via the sewage treatment plant or onto agricultural lands poses a serious threat to humans, domestic stock and wildlife.’</span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">‘Aluminium, a neurotoxic linked with the onset of dementia and Alzheimers, was detected at 440 times drinking water standards and 800 times the allowable environmental limits. At elevated concentrations aluminium can be lethal to fish and other aquatic organisms and the animals that consume them,’ said Ms. Cerese.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">‘Lead, a cumulative poison that can severely affect the central nervous system, was measured at 7 times drinking water standards and 20 times the safe environmental limit. Lead is renowned for its effects on children’s development and has been shown to cause cancer in animals.’ </span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">‘The sampling found levels of hexavalent chromium 50 times the guideline level required to protect waterways. Hexavalent chromium is known to cause lung cancer in humans and also adversely affects aquatic and marine life,’ she said.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">‘The sample results clearly show that the community cannot rely on the water quality results provided by Metgasco and that there is an urgent need for state government authorities to undertake rigorous independent testing of all Metgasco’s ponds prior to any further actions regarding treatment and disposal of this wastewater,’ said Ms. Cerese.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">‘In addition, these results sound a warning bell for the future, as the treatment and disposal of the vast quantities of water extracted in future CSG production will mean the accumulation of thousands of tonnes of chemical laden salts, potentially severely impacting ground and surface water quality, and putting at risk public, livestock and wildlife health.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">‘Plans to use this water in agriculture or to reinject produced water back into the ground are a dangerous notion, one which will backfire on future generations,’ she said</span></span></i></b></p></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-15134638508792844732012-07-12T13:39:00.007+10:002012-07-12T18:23:48.042+10:00Clarence River catchment under threat from greedy miners endorsed by NSW O'Farrell Government<div class="WordSection1"><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><a href="http://www.coffscoastindependent.com.au/news/local/news/general/urgent-need-to-protect-our-water-supply/2622077.aspx">Coffs Coast Independent</a> </span></i></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">12 July 2012:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">ACCORDING to the Mid North Coast Greens, five mining exploration licences cover the headwaters of the Orara and the Nymboida Rivers - which are the drinking water catchments for approximately 150,000 people between Yamba and Sawtell. </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">"Minerals known to occur in the ore bodies being targeted include mercury, antimony, arsenic and lead. All are highly toxic minerals that pose a great contamination risk to the water supply for the region," the MNC Greens said in a statement......</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">"The Dorrigo Plateau is renowned as the highest rainfall district in NSW. From Ulong and Lowanna to Dundurrabin these headwaters provide most of the flow to the mighty Clarence River," Dr Sally Townley, mayoral candidate for Coffs Harbour City Council said.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">"These catchments not only supply drinking water, they are the lifeblood of the tourism industry, the fishing industry and the cane industry. In the tourism industry alone there are more than 3500 permanent jobs completely dependent upon the health of the Clarence River." ......</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">"Mineral exploration leases and exploration activities occurring across the catchments pose a real and present danger of mercury and lead contamination if urgent action is not taken," Dr Kaye said.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">"The catchment is already carrying the legacy of a history of inappropriate mining at Wild Cattle Creek. The entire Macleay River is heavily contaminated with arsenic and antimony from mining at Hillgrove east of Armidale. </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">"Contamination is a one way street. Once heavy metals have poisoned a supply, it is almost impossible to protect the health of future users. </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">"The Dorrigo Plateau must be declared off-limits to mining and mineral exploration." ......</span></i></b></p></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-44521903526573208982012-07-05T18:51:00.010+10:002012-07-05T19:13:27.164+10:00Is Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott building a case to dam NSW coastal rivers?<div class=WordSection1><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.0pt'></span></p><p class=Default><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'><br />The Coalition will invest in new and upgraded dams </span></i></b></p><p class=Default><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'></span></b></p><p class=Default><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>The Coalition will invest in Australia's future water security. Australia has been let down by a failure to plan for Australia's long-term water needs. </span></b></p><p class=Default><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'></span></b></p><p class=Default style='margin-bottom:12.5pt'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> State Labor governments have made poor investment decisions, deciding to pour billions of dollars into desalination plants which have contributed to the 60 per cent rise in water prices since Labor came to power in 2007. </span></b></p><p class=Default><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> As a result, the long-term planning to secure Australia's water future has not been done. Crucial infrastructure in water assets takes decades to plan for. </span></b></p><p class=Default><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:100%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Coalition will invest in the water supply options that Labor has ignored during its time in government.</span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:100%;font-family:Wingdings;color:black'></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:100%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> Dams can provide reliable water supplies for cities, underpin the economic development of the agriculture, manufacturing and mining sectors, provide a low-emission source of electricity and mitigate the effects of flood. </span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:100%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:100%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Australia has not built a large dam for over 20 years. If we don't start planning for new investments now, then our water storage capacity will fall considerably over the next 20 years. That's why the Coalition's Dams Taskforce is looking at potential investments in Dam capacity across the country. </span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:100%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:100%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> Compared to 20 years ago, the amount of water we can store per person has fallen considerably. In 1990 Australia could store in its dams over 4.5 ML per person. Due to a lack of investment in dams, we can now only store 3.5 ML per person. By 2050, if no more dams are built, it will fall below 2.5 ML per person. </span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'></span></b></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>[</span><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext'><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/99177534/Coalition-Speakers-Notes-1-July-2012">COALITION SPEAKER'S NOTES</a></span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext'> Current as at 1 July 2012] </span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'></span></b></p></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-83144341816407532452012-07-02T03:53:00.017+10:002012-07-02T04:37:17.421+10:00Clarence Valley comes a step closer to locking the gate against coal seam gas mining<span style="font-size:+0;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KFK3x7IXruGe-3aGJoC2lh-uG1gjYIVlA1nCmOtrKpqgRsmAMuGe3aD45mM-d9FlxtI16xFdZpFqSjDzeCKrPc-TcZRXWJpFwaoan6UxmLehBABWi0H4_18_ral6SrCHUyUzxPHDyPo6/s1600/fullview.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760269526870975426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KFK3x7IXruGe-3aGJoC2lh-uG1gjYIVlA1nCmOtrKpqgRsmAMuGe3aD45mM-d9FlxtI16xFdZpFqSjDzeCKrPc-TcZRXWJpFwaoan6UxmLehBABWi0H4_18_ral6SrCHUyUzxPHDyPo6/s400/fullview.jpg" /></a><em><strong><a href="http://www.visitnsw.com/__data/assets/image/0004/18841/varieties/fullview.jpg"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Clarence River</span></a></strong></em><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><b><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><a href="http://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/page.asp?f=RES-HXX-01-85-66">CLARENCE VALLEY COUNCIL RESOLUTION – 14.005/12</a> at the Ordinary Monthly Meeting on 26 June 2012:<br /><br />That :<br /><br />1. Further to its resolution of 12 July 2011 and 21 February 2012, Clarence Valley Council calls on the NSW State Government to immediately place a moratorium on all coal seam gas (CSG) exploration including all forms of unconventional gas extraction within the Clarence Valley local government area until appropriate State Legislation is enacted.<br />2. The State Government is urged to adopt appropriate policies and implement land use legislation which will effectively control and regulate the CSG industry and safeguard water, food and environmental security for future generations.<br />3. Development of such policy and legislation be predicated on:-<br />a) Gaining accurate scientific data on CSG extraction impacts;<br />b) The Government’s prompt and diligent consideration and implementation of the 35Recommendations contained in the 1 May 2012 CSG Report of the Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee No 5; and<br />c) Appropriate consideration of submissions received to the Draft Strategic Regional Land Use Plans for the Upper Hunter and North West of NSW.<br />4. Council notes the list of roads handed to Mayor Williamson at the regional rally on 12 May 2012 in Lismore by residents of the Ewingar district declaring the road reserves CSG free viz a viz Japara Road, Valley View Road, Bulldog Road, Grand View Road, Hunters Road, Peckham Road, Ewingar Road and Plains Station Road.<br /><br />Voting recorded as follows:<br />For: Councillors Williamson, Comben, Dinham, Howe, Hughes, McKenna, Simmons, Tiley and Toms<br />Against: Nil</span></b><br /><br /><b><i><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"><a href="http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/">The Daily Examiner</a></span></i></b><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';"> 2 July 2012:<br /><br /><i>ROSS Wilkinson, a fourth-generation farmer in the South Tabulam-Ewingar area of the Clarence Valley Shire and son of Isabel Wilkinson, renowned historian and author of "The Forgotten Country", has locked his gate against coal-seam gas mining.<br />At a community celebration on Saturday, June 16, a Gas Field-Free Road sign was erected on Plain Station Rd at the northern end of the Clarence Valley Shire where Ross lives.<br />"I've lived beside the Clarence River all my life; that's my life: the land and the river," he said.<br />"Without good water you've got nothing."<br />"You can't grow anything, you can't live. You'd have to walk off your place.<br />"There are hundreds of tonnes of cereal and leguminous crops grown in the area as well as thousands of head of cattle.<br />"We went through 12 years when it never rained and we had to irrigate all through it."<br />"Without being able to irrigate we've got nothing."<br />Mr Wilkinson is also worried about his grandkids' future, saying: "We don't own the land, we only look after it for the next generation and we've got to make sure it's in better order for them."<br />And he won't accept that this form of mining is safe until the mining companies prove it beyond reasonable doubt.… </span></i>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-23723888528890081852012-06-13T19:36:00.013+10:002012-06-13T19:51:30.390+10:00The Clarence Valley does its bit to protect the Northern Rivers region from coal seam gas mining<div class="WordSection1"><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWeWNOSw9PBi2oLdq5bE5eTkqU3kKz-LcPVK_KEMaLmb1WXhaiZK_X5zqF6eRzlg8TBdKdBrzxr70OlxMdcCeLzY33wH-hwVzpkgCQq5rkv1zBRUxoru4ZMpXy4pUaD7NDHNd41jFNJMk/s1600/ScreenHunter_01+Jun.+13+17.22.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 420px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753454619392984018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWeWNOSw9PBi2oLdq5bE5eTkqU3kKz-LcPVK_KEMaLmb1WXhaiZK_X5zqF6eRzlg8TBdKdBrzxr70OlxMdcCeLzY33wH-hwVzpkgCQq5rkv1zBRUxoru4ZMpXy4pUaD7NDHNd41jFNJMk/s400/ScreenHunter_01+Jun.+13+17.22.gif" /></a></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:75%;"><a href="http://lockthegate.org.au/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Lock The Gate</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:75%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Rally<i> </i>at Lismore on 12 May 2012</b></span></span></p></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-9780232723500150402012-03-27T00:41:00.001+11:002012-03-27T00:42:01.191+11:00What the Clarence Valley is fighting for (20)<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Clarence River Gorge</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="241" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DKRubtXrhY0?rel=0" width="415"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://youtu.be/DKRubtXrhY0"><strong>http://youtu.be/DKRubtXrhY0</strong></a></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-32556920134491606052012-03-27T00:30:00.002+11:002012-03-27T00:36:13.835+11:00Those New England vandals have reared their heads again<div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChgliKQaiW2NT7eKWHh4uoYusj8JJp77me1JRmxqYiY5qgBC82M6fqIiZg4ZBmnlPtqFEHNo39EuaOo6xW_mpabbhyphenhyphen2jC5FJ0W0TddsPF2owdCZo9-6PHZtyyrQdLdEPLK5D921DxUGEP/s1600/ScreenHunter_04+Mar.+27+00.23.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChgliKQaiW2NT7eKWHh4uoYusj8JJp77me1JRmxqYiY5qgBC82M6fqIiZg4ZBmnlPtqFEHNo39EuaOo6xW_mpabbhyphenhyphen2jC5FJ0W0TddsPF2owdCZo9-6PHZtyyrQdLdEPLK5D921DxUGEP/s400/ScreenHunter_04+Mar.+27+00.23.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goodwood Island in the Clarence River estuary<br />
Click on Google Earth image to enlarge</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Former President of the New South Wales Farmers Association, member of the federal Ministerial Advisory Council on Regional Australia, current Inverell Shire Mayor and Chair of <i><a href="http://www.rdani.org.au/the-committee/committee-members.php">Regional Development Australia: Northern Inland NSW<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></a></i> <b>Mal Peters</b>, along with fellow RDANI committee members <b>Les Parsons</b>, <b>Heather Ranclaud</b>, <b>Neil Argent</b>, <b>Scott McLachlan</b>, <b>Ray Tait</b>, <b>Matt Patterson</b>, <b>Jane Kreis</b>, <b>Melanie Dowell</b>, <b>Sue Price</b>, <b>Ian Lobsey</b>, and <b>Anita Taylor</b> (in company with Inverell councillor <b>David C. Jones</b>) have turned their greedy eyes towards the Clarence Valley.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With a view to wrecking not only the Clarence River below Harwood Bridge, but a good part of the Valley as well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It seems these individuals are promoting the idea of creating a Moree to Iluka-Yamba rail line running into a bulk shipping/coal terminal probably situated on Goodwood Island after deep water dredging a channel from the river mouth and, in 2010-11 <a href="http://www.rdani.org.au/files/pages/our-region/regional-plan/RDANI_REGIONAL_PLAN_050112_Final_Version.pdf">formed plans</a> to <a href="http://media.apnonline.com.au/67.1/img/media/pdf/Pre-feasibility_-_Proposed_Rail_Line_to_Illuka.pdf">ask for an estimated $1 million to conduct a feasibility study</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mayor Peters <a href="http://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/bush-needs-the-big-bucks/2252155.aspx">apparently lobbied for this idea at the inaugural meeting</a> of the Regional Australia Advisory Council in Melbourne in mid-2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">However, Clarence Valley residents only became widely aware of this scheme when <i><a href="http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/story/2012/03/05/plans-railway-are-track/">The Daily Examiner</a></i> published an article on 5 March 2012, along with this diagram:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSa6nfha8WisXPK_5X7sxXkPNnrZ_UxrsoATxRNitVIEGYg6ToDmhtJaHZHUtg84rIzPcA1s9jKWBH87axtES80QMlnREHn15x7PvJ6S-FpUyhzjVjACtnRS9Wd4yflkMSievgcUYMrae/s1600/image001-796346.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724191528001705938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSa6nfha8WisXPK_5X7sxXkPNnrZ_UxrsoATxRNitVIEGYg6ToDmhtJaHZHUtg84rIzPcA1s9jKWBH87axtES80QMlnREHn15x7PvJ6S-FpUyhzjVjACtnRS9Wd4yflkMSievgcUYMrae/s320/image001-796346.gif" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Click on image to enlarge</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As has come to be expected from industry groups and local government over the Great Dividing Range, there is little to no consideration of the environmental, cultural, economic and social costs this scheme would impose on coastal communities.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">The photograph below shows the infrastructure of one typical Australian coal terminal.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xWHZzoKmrzD1ZVxi4MM6bRKMyN8UvnDBGiSHOsTr329Pl2JymYYRVDmRO07ik4UDS2-1FN8xjyHyGreZp8hTrve7YeamxgD6XD9gEBjZIb7FM9wHkazMotJBO0lYlNftyaAuzPO5iCpE/s1600/image002-799388.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724191533988431938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xWHZzoKmrzD1ZVxi4MM6bRKMyN8UvnDBGiSHOsTr329Pl2JymYYRVDmRO07ik4UDS2-1FN8xjyHyGreZp8hTrve7YeamxgD6XD9gEBjZIb7FM9wHkazMotJBO0lYlNftyaAuzPO5iCpE/s320/image002-799388.gif" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">Unfortunately this is exactly the type of crudely executed vandalism which would appeal to the <i>develop to death,</i> <i>mining at any cost</i> heart of the new NSW Nationals Member for Clarence <b>Chris Gulaptis</b>.</span></div></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-53057261346278906822012-03-20T16:42:00.001+11:002012-03-20T16:43:58.014+11:00UNESCO & IUCN invited to see what mining would place at risk on the Dorrigo Plateau<div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">19 March 2012</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="http://www.dorrigoenvironmentwatch.org.au/index.html"><span style="color: #006600; text-decoration: none;">Dorrigo Environment Watch Inc.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><em><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #92d050; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Our mission is "To raise community awareness of risks to human and environmental health"<o:p></o:p></span></b></em></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Press</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Release<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Invitation</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">to</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">UNESCO</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">&</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">IUCN</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">to</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">visit</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">the</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Dorrigo</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Plateau<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">copy</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">of</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">this</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Press</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Release</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Dorrigo</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Environment</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Watch</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> have </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">invited</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">UNESCO</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">World</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Heritage</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Centre</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">and</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">International</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Union</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">for</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Conservation</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">of</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Nature</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(IUCN)</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">monitoring</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">team</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(who</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">are</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">currently</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">visiting</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Australia</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">to</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">monitor</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">impacts</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">of</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">mining</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">on</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Barrier</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Reef)</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">to</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">also</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">schedule</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">in</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">a</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">visit</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">to</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Dorrigo</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Plateau.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Dorrigo</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Plateau</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">has</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">different</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">mining</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">companies</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">with</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">current</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">exploration</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">licences</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">and</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">recent</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">drilling</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> has been </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">undertaken</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">for</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">gold</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">and</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">antimony</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">across</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Plateau.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">is</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">concern</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">that</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gondwana</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rainforests</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">of</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Australia</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">World</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Heritage</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Area</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">values</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">could</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">be</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">compromised</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">if</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">any</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">mining</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">developments</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">were</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">approved</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">on</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Plateau.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Dorrigo</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Environment</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Watch</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> will </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">ask</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">NSW</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">and</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Australian</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Governments</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">to</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">zone</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">plateau</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">a</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">no</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">go</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">zone</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">’ </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">for</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">mining</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">to</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">ensure</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">that</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">world</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">heritage</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">values</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">and</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">vital</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">ecosystem</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">services</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(which</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">underpin</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">our</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">food,</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">fisheries,</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">fibre</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">and</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">drinking</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">water)</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">are</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">protected</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">for</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">present</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">and</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">future</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">generations.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Australia</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">has</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">an</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">obligation</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">to</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">abide</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">by</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">our</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">world</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">heritage</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">agreements</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">to</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">protect</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gondwana</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rainforests.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">no</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">go</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">zone</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">’ </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">would</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">serve</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">as</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">an</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">appropriate</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Government</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">commitment</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">and</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">celebration</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">for</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">25</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">year</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">anniversary</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">of</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">World</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Heritage</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">listing</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">of</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">our</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gondwana</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">rainforests.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">more</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">information</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">or</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">comment</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">please</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">contact</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Trevor</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Deane</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">on</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> 02 </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">6657</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4005.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-65040819675475106142012-03-11T18:59:00.000+11:002012-03-11T18:59:06.481+11:00What the Clarence Valley is fighting for (19)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnjC3iOHXL_WLiN4XjOtCjvROYNrr7oyQm8ChlCoj3n-TTsVNhNy2ICL16KKyAajmS-JJdE4y5AJFvpNLuAjEEy3ZXWu02m92Sq9DqMobKlOEXZvPTM91-6CJcUdto2RooobnuEg8grOp/s1600/ScreenHunter_04+Mar.+11+16.33.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="225" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnjC3iOHXL_WLiN4XjOtCjvROYNrr7oyQm8ChlCoj3n-TTsVNhNy2ICL16KKyAajmS-JJdE4y5AJFvpNLuAjEEy3ZXWu02m92Sq9DqMobKlOEXZvPTM91-6CJcUdto2RooobnuEg8grOp/s400/ScreenHunter_04+Mar.+11+16.33.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> <b>Platypus Pool</b></i><br />
at <b>Wild Cattle Creek</b><br />
Nymboida River sub-catchment<br />
of the Clarence River Catchment<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Short video <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2587423602385">here</a></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-60027288850144999722012-02-21T18:34:00.000+11:002012-02-21T18:34:22.742+11:00Community concern over Anchor Resources mining plans in Clarence Catchment high country not going away<div class=WordSection1><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/story/2012/02/21/exploratory-drilling-concern-grows/"><b>The Coffs Coast Advocate </b>21 February 2012</a>:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CONCERN is growing in the tiny town of Tyringham on the Dorrigo plateau as 96% Chinese-owned Anchor Resources continues its exploratory drilling programs.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Tyringham resident Kathy Realph said with the plateau identified as a 'refuge' for wildlife already under threat from climate change, mining on the plateau would be devastating.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"We simply do not understand how Anchor can have a licence for a prospective site adjacent to the Mt Hyland Nature Reserve," Mrs Realph said.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>She said the plateau was also located in the overlap zone of the New England Tablelands and the NSW North Coast bioregion, making it an area of higher biodiversity value than if either region were considered individually.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"This area is recognised internationally as a biodiversity hotspot".<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Those campaigning against mining on the plateau have the support of Coffs Harbour City councillor Mark Graham, who has warned of the possible contamination of waterways.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"There are more than 100,000 people who receive water from this catchment under the Coffs Clarence Regional Water Supply," Mr Graham said.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"Toxins known from the orebodies on the Dorrigo Plateau that Anchor is seeking to mine include arsenic, antimony, mercury and lead, all are a threat to human health. Mining of these orebodies will endanger our watersupply and the health of the Clarence River."<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Another resident, Ian Realph, highlighted the additional problem of huge economic losses to fisheries and tourism, should waterways become contaminated.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"Of course when Anchor talks to the community they will tell us that safeguards will be put in place and world's best practice will be employed but those same assurances were given by Exon Valdez and also Deep Water Horizon," Mr Realph said.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"We already have contamination issues in the Upper Macleay, Urunga Lagoon and the Mole River near Tenterfield."<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>In January Anchor Resources was fined $2500 for not rehabilitating land as required by law.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p></div></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-78346374247232592452012-02-16T09:03:00.002+11:002012-02-16T09:04:30.193+11:00Farmers, fishermen and conservation groups agree to fight mining in the Dorrigo Plateau and Clarence River catchments<div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/story/2012/02/16/push-to-block-dorrigo-mining/?utm_source=rss+dailyexaminer&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS+distribution">The Daily Examiner</a> </span></i></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">16 February 2012:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">AN UNLIKELY coalition has formed to fight proposals to mine areas on the Dorrigo plateau.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At a meeting in Dundurrabin at the weekend, farmers, fishermen and conservation groups agreed to fight attempts to mine in the high-rainfall Dorrigo catchment.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Coffs Harbour councillor Mark Graham said there was a concerted push for the Dorrigo plateau to be declared off limits to mining.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He said there was a series of proposals for open-cut mining in the Orara, Little Nymboida, Wild Cattle Creek and Bobo areas, which was the most advanced.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"That all feeds into the Clarence, which is the regional water supply, and is the lifeblood of the Clarence Valley," he said.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"The reasons for campaigning for the Dorrigo plateau to be off-limits is for the health of the whole river and all the communities below it.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"The mining industry has said nowhere in the state is off-limits, but if anywhere should be it is the Dorrigo plateau because of its incredibly high rainfall."</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Clarence Valley councillor Karen Toms said there should be no-go areas for mining and the Dorrigo plateau was one of those.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"We need to protect our water," she said.</span></i></b></div></div></div></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-78970415217951626932012-02-02T15:22:00.004+11:002012-02-02T15:26:31.688+11:00Mining Law Workshop Dundurrabin Community Centre February 11th 2012 at 1.30pm<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><u><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>MINING LAW WORKSHOP</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></p><p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Dundurrabin Community Centre at 1.30pm on February 11, 201 </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Sue Higgenson, senior solicitor from the Environmental Defenders Office, is coming to talk with our community about mining law.<br />
<br />
This is an open invitation to the whole community to address everyone's concerns regarding the legal side of mining and our rights within the community and for our private landholdings.<br />
<br />
Take this opportunity to understand what could happen if mining proceeds in our community.<span style='color:#2E2E2E'> <br />
</span><br />
<b><u>Environmental Defenders Office:<br />
</u></b><br />
<span style='color:#AFCBAF'> </span>A community legal centre specialising in public interest environmental law<br />
<br />
<span style='color:#AFCBAF'> </span>Mission: promote the public interest and improve environmental outcomes through the informed use of the law<br />
<br />
<u><span style='color:#AFCBAF'> </span>Functions<br />
</u><br />
<span style='color:#70A274'> </span>Legal Advice and Representation<br />
<br />
<span style='color:#70A274'> </span>Policy and Law Reform<br />
<br />
<span style='color:#70A274'> </span>Community Education<br />
<br />
<span style='color:#70A274'> </span>Scientific and Technical Advice<br />
<br />
Please bring a something to share to have with a cuppa.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Local Mining Exploration<br />
</u></b><br />
Anchor Resources have been doing exploratory drilling at Dundurrabin for gold and copper. <br />
<br />
As reported on Anchor Resources website,<span style='color:#2E2E2E'> (</span><span style='color:#646464'><a href="http://www.anchorresources.com/">www.anchorresources.com</a></span><span style='color:#2E2E2E'>) the Tyringham prospect is identified as a Reduced Intrusion-Related Gold System (RIRGS) and deposits of this type include multi-million ounce gold mines such as Fort-Knox, Pogo and Donlin Creek (Alsaska) and Kidston Australia.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p></div>* Media release from <i>Dorrigo Environment Watch <b></b></i>memberJudith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-84621492438389932952012-01-18T08:55:00.002+11:002012-01-18T08:57:08.104+11:00Anchor Resources fails to remediate Wild Cattle Creek test drill sites and is fined<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkgu3-CAcTlSkSoSswu7lS9xxqKWU2nibuZdchMf4prZQbBDMPx0ooNIEFi61iuiedJmB8mDi59aYCKk30BrDqDkX-an7nX9lYlCFdjnavuO47tsKrdSiVQe-z5fk1t0dLDpUSn8Jebk8/s1600/ScreenHunter_06+Jan.+18+07.39.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkgu3-CAcTlSkSoSswu7lS9xxqKWU2nibuZdchMf4prZQbBDMPx0ooNIEFi61iuiedJmB8mDi59aYCKk30BrDqDkX-an7nX9lYlCFdjnavuO47tsKrdSiVQe-z5fk1t0dLDpUSn8Jebk8/s400/ScreenHunter_06+Jan.+18+07.39.gif" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Click on image to enlarge</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snapshot of <strong>Anchor Resources Ltd</strong> report to the Australian Stock Exchange <br />
published 17 January 2012</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When the <span class="st1"><b><span style="color: black;">China</span><span style="color: #222222;"> Shandong Jinshunda Group</span></b></span></span><span class="st1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></span><span class="st1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">acquired this Australian registered mining exploration company it apparently did not immediately react to the evidence of its own site inspections or act on landholder complaint/s.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span class="st1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It was served with a notice to remediate certain test drilling sites in its Wild Cattle Creek lease area by the NSW Department of Trade & Investment Resources & Energy and fined $2,500.</span></span></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-14790625803331823012011-12-19T01:30:00.017+11:002011-12-19T03:52:55.322+11:00Running counter to Anchor Resources antimony mining propaganda<div class="WordSection1"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
From <strong><em><a href="http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com/">North Coast Voices</a></em></strong> on 19 December 2011:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The 101 year-old<b><i> Don Dorrigo Gazette</i></b> ran this letter to the editor by <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><strong><a href="http://www.une.edu.au/staff/jwilli53.php">Jacqueline Williams</a></strong> </span>on its front page in December 2011:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mining in Dorrigo: another perspective</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The article appearing in the Don Dorrigo Gazette 16/11/2011 under the heading ‘Mining in Dorrigo’ presents information that appears to be directly from an Anchor Resources brochure on the Bielsdown Project. It would seem appropriate to question and challenge this article and highlight perhaps what we the community haven’t been told. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Anchor Resources is one of three companies holding mineral exploration licences on the Plateau and is currently the most active. Anchor Resources activities include drilling for gold at Dundurrabin, proposed drilling for antimony/gold at Wongwibinda (Fishington Mine) and further drilling at Bielsdown. This flurry of activity in our region reflects the rising price of antimony, gold and other metals and I question whether this is due to resource scarcity or market manipulation? China</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">produces</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">90%</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">of</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">world</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">’</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">s</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">antimony, and we have seen</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">price</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">of</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">antimony</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">skyrocket from</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">$4K</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">per</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">tonne</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">to</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">$16K</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">per</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">tonne</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">in</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">last</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">two</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">years.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> This price increase has largely been associated with the closure of a number of large producing antimony mines in China due to human health/safety and environmental concerns. It is pertinent to add here that Anchor Resources is now at least 96% owned by the Chinese company Shandong Jinshunda Group as of mid 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I note that Anchor Resources refer to the exploration licence process, however it is difficult to find the latest approval for their Bielsdown project with the Government gazette showing an application to renew the licence in February 2011, however this licence doesn’t appear to be granted as yet. Also of concern is that a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) has not been undertaken for any of the exploration licence applications submitted by Anchor for the Bielsdown project since 2007. My understanding is that a REF is a requirement of all exploration licence applicants to undertake an environmental impact assessment of the proposed activities so that NSW DPI can make an assessment under the <i>Environmental Planning and Assessment Act </i>1979 prior to granting the licence. Given that the Bielsdown project location has state and national significance as habitat for threatened species I question the currency of the exploration licence and how the NSW government has overlooked an important part of the approval process. This is not to mention the requirements under the Commonwealth legislation that the location triggers. It is unclear whether Anchor Resources have notified the Commonwealth government to determine if their exploration activities are considered a ‘controlled action’ under the <i>Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act </i>1999 requiring further environmental impact assessment and approval. Many farmers have shared with me their frustration about their efforts and sacrifices in conserving native vegetation and habitat for the public good only to see mining companies given open slather. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I don’t wish to dwell solely on the environmental issues surrounding the potential of mining on the Plateau, as there are other issues that need to be considered. It seems that Dorrigo is not immune to</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">unprecedented</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">mining</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">expansion</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">in</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">regional</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Australia</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">where</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">potential</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">social</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">and</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">economic</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">impacts</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> need to be considered by the communities faced with these challenges</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. As the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">current</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">legislation</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">has been identified as inadequate</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">to</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">accommodate</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">risks, new policies</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">are being developed</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">and</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">proposals</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">to</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">change</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">legislation under</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">debate. In the meantime, mining</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">activities</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">continue</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">to</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">expand.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> In considering the full impacts of mining, the concerns of landholders and rural communities should not be dismissed as simply ‘alarmist’...... </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read the full letter <a href="http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com/p/mining-in-dorrigo-another-perspective.html">here</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-74484991622157454782011-12-09T12:38:00.002+11:002011-12-09T12:39:43.523+11:00China Shandong Jinshunda Group caught out over fudged claims of widespread community consultation<div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; line-height: 100%;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; line-height: 100%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Editor David Bancroft writing in <i>The Daily Examiner</i>, 9 December 2011:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; line-height: 12pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/story/2011/12/09/miners-consultation-claim-disputed/">Miner's claim disputed</a></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">A MINING company's claim to have consulted widely about antimony mining in the Wild Cattle Creek area has been disputed by one of the area's environmental groups.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">Dorrigo Environment Watch member Matt Forde said claims from Anchor Resources general manager Ian Price about community consultation did not match their own research.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">Mr Price told ABC Radio on October 6 the company had consulted widely with residents, particularly in the area affected by the project.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">"We are continuing that consultation into the local community," Mr Price said.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">But Mr Forde said his group had members residing in the area who had received no communication, so decided to phone around to see how many had.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">"Results from the survey found that 52% of landholders had received no communication from Anchor Resources, while 26% were contacted in 2009, with no further communication," he said</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">"Seventeen per cent of landholders had communications in 2009 and 2010 and 13% of landholders have been communicated with between 2009 to 2011.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">"One of these landholders received over 96 emails from Anchor Resources in a two-year period, mostly in relation to access agreements."</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">Mr Price, who was in Dorrigo yesterday, said he was relatively new to the company but company records showed there had been consultation in 2009.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">He said there was no timetable for drilling in the area and land access had not been negotiated.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">There had been ongoing discussion with affected landowners, he said.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 100%;">Once land access was negotiated, the company would undertake another round of consultation, which would be detailed.</span></i></b></div></div></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-21810362017059841262011-12-05T13:09:00.003+11:002011-12-05T13:11:37.135+11:00Here we go again ... another ratbag!<div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The title of this post is the exact wording of the opening sentence of an email sent by one Clarence Valley resident earlier today, alerting me to the fact that at least some of those irrigators (unhappy with the latest manifestation of the <i><a href="http://www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/media_releases/draft-basin-plan-for-public">Draft Murray Darling Basin Plan</a></i>) have turned their greedy eyes and intransigent hearts towards the Clarence River catchment once more.</span></div><b><i><a href="http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/agribusiness-and-general/finance/mdba-plan-good-for-agribusiness/2376393.aspx?storypage=0"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">…managing director of South Australian citrus and dairy company Nippy's, Jeff Knispel,……. Mr Knispel advocated considering the social and economic benefits of building a hydro electricity dam at the head of northern NSW's Clarence River and dropping the water into the western-flowing river system, feeding the Darling River.</span></a></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Apparently the resounding “No!” communities in the Clarence catchment have been shouting for decades to every move to dam and divert freshwater to the inevitable detriment of the local economy, agriculture, industry, visual amenity, cultural significance, water sustainability/security and biodiversity is still falling on the deaf ears of faraway irrigators who believe they have a God-given right to rape and plunder Australia’s most vital natural resource.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Well, my patience is long worn out and, <i><a href="http://www.nippys.com.au/about-us">Nippy’s Fruit Juices Pty Ltd, Nippy’s All Seasons Pty Ltd<span style="font-style: normal;">, </span>Knispel Bros Pty Ltd<span style="font-style: normal;"> and </span>Nippy's Waikerie Producers Pty Ltd</a></i> can confidently predict that none of their product will ever be purchased by me or mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That, Mr. Jeff Knispel is <b>Natually as good as it gets.</b></span></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-48327846139140347942011-12-05T13:01:00.002+11:002011-12-05T13:03:18.706+11:00What the Clarence Valley is fighting for (18)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ABF7Kw84S0UKeTcgauyFgzn6vXHRH-oERhO0EVEtJKJUCBd07iIpZcsh-0ngSTefIMTdi_qtf0eWipjPLh8RiTpRj7PPMJiO3LYDpK9eidd36me4kS511TFCR8QeTR88gPOcfzDgIlUq/s1600/2011-BSFOS-012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ABF7Kw84S0UKeTcgauyFgzn6vXHRH-oERhO0EVEtJKJUCBd07iIpZcsh-0ngSTefIMTdi_qtf0eWipjPLh8RiTpRj7PPMJiO3LYDpK9eidd36me4kS511TFCR8QeTR88gPOcfzDgIlUq/s400/2011-BSFOS-012.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53ohRTwGGWNfyZj31S_ykvBTuvXd2MFbdmI8aSe9Tq0xgWsZeop772Nfg4TpNS7Ws1UEGcy_J3j9vE7RkpQIP-ktMflk_t7seh5TkY67lGh-rwb7xQfdZPBG_qgCUPlM-YTpj5mP-nGzv/s1600/20192054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53ohRTwGGWNfyZj31S_ykvBTuvXd2MFbdmI8aSe9Tq0xgWsZeop772Nfg4TpNS7Ws1UEGcy_J3j9vE7RkpQIP-ktMflk_t7seh5TkY67lGh-rwb7xQfdZPBG_qgCUPlM-YTpj5mP-nGzv/s400/20192054.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTIfM1_zoMSaQcFQYToigi-5-UCHLLn9B9u0c4ZKjoA-Czk3wKw0XlDRazIxdhEoJkqZrkdT_n_Sj2h68gwKSVjGP61aruLD66Iozw3scxzx433PTTajqmIDqD-ZLDxVxhG8Dahasia-c/s1600/100_3061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTIfM1_zoMSaQcFQYToigi-5-UCHLLn9B9u0c4ZKjoA-Czk3wKw0XlDRazIxdhEoJkqZrkdT_n_Sj2h68gwKSVjGP61aruLD66Iozw3scxzx433PTTajqmIDqD-ZLDxVxhG8Dahasia-c/s400/100_3061.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tributaries flowing <br />
from the Nymboida River high country <br />
down towards the Clarence River</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">Photographs found at <em>Google Images</em></span></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4868208460566587951.post-1731162555349695852011-12-03T00:13:00.018+11:002011-12-03T00:17:45.438+11:00Antimony becomes a dirty word on the NSW North Coast<div class="MsoNormal"></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-02/alliance-to-oppose-dorrigo-plateau-mining/3708808/?site=midnorthcoast&section=news">ABC Mid North Coast News</a></span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 2 December 2011:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A community alliance has been formed to oppose antimony mining on the Dorrigo Plateau.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The group is working to stop the reopening of the old Wild Cattle Creek near Bielsdown.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The alliance says the Anchor Resources plan could lead to pollution in the headwaters of the Nymboida River which feeds the Coffs-Clarence public water supply.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coffs councillor Mark Graham says recent stormwater overflows from the old Hillgrove mine on the plateau highlight concerns.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"These are essentially pristine headwaters areas, which provide drinking and good clean water important for many of the industries in our region," he said.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We've seen in our Macleay River, major contamination because of the mining at Hillgrove.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We need to learn lessons from that and avoid making these mistakes again."</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cr Graham says the community is determined to be heard.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The determining authority for mining application is state and in some instances the Commonwealth Government," he said.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Community groups have aligned and formed together in an alliance to oppose mining on the Dorrigo Plateau."</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><em><a href="http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/story/2011/12/01/sticking-to-anti-antimony-stance-bumper-sticker/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Daily Examiner</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></em></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 December 2011:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="WordSection1"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chinese-owned Anchor Resources holds a licence to explore the Bielsdown site, but no approval has been issued for mining.</span></em></strong></div><div class="WordSection1"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Groups including Dorrigo Environment Watch, Antimony Action, NSW Greens and North Coast Voices fear that any mining activity in the high-rainfall area could lead to contamination of the Clarence/Coffs Harbour water supply.</span></em></strong></div><div class="WordSection1"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The effects of antimony poisoning are similar to arsenic poisoning," a Greens statement on the issue said. "In small doses, antimony causes headaches, dizziness and depression.</span></em></strong></div><div class="WordSection1"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Larger doses damage the kidneys and the liver, causing violent and frequent vomiting and will lead to death within a few days; otherwise skin contact causes dermatitis."</span></em></strong></div><div class="WordSection1"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ABC's 7.30 Report covered the story about prior Hillgrove spills, their impact and the Wild Cattle Creek plans in October.</span></em></strong></div><div class="WordSection1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #10253f;"><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-29/macleay-river-spill-sparks-contamination-fears/3702054/?site=midnorthcoast&section=news"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ABC Mid North Coast News</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: #10253f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">29 November 2011:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There has been another heavy metal spill into the Macleay River from a gold and antimony mine in the upper catchment.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heavy rain over the weekend caused an overflow from a stormwater dam at the Hillgrove mine near Armidale.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Kempsey council's infrastructure manager, Robert Scott, says the contamination sounds worse than it actually is.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He says the rain caused the spill but it also helped dilute it.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"At the moment the dams in the Hillgrove mine, because they've received around about 290mm of rainfall for the month of November alone, are full, they are discharging," he said.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We are seeing a massive dilution factor as a result of the overall flow that's coming off the New England Tablelands at the moment, which has resulted in relatively low levels of discharge directly from the mine."</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, conservationists are worried about the latest spill into the Upper Macleay.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coffs Harbour Greens' councillor Mark Graham says the spill in the region's drinking water catchment should be grounds for concern.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I think that all the evidence is that the river is contaminated by mining practices and it's not just the historic mining practices," he said.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The owners of the Hillgrove mine, Straits Mining, were recently fined $50,000 in the Land and Environment Court for ongoing contamination to the headwaters of the Macleay.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"These mines are creating ongoing contamination for the catchment.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: clear;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><a href="http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">North Coast Voices</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30 November 2011:</span></div><h3><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com/2011/11/no-antimony-mine-on-dorrigo-plateau-get.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">No Antimony Mine on the Dorrigo Plateau - get your bumper stickers now</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpMw6Ou_ojs3K0CbvA6gRpyqURUDFroD9-OcL0edMKzXyYYZjek8qwhveQ_Cy05iOcflm4Y9yRXakg87aIraOMe_wgEwpU-Fuegvbkef9a0jKX69lsCfjEqjaypmi7ij6q0yG-bDVqCNE/s1600/image003-798720.jpg"><span style="color: #5588aa; text-decoration: none;"></span></a><span style="color: #333333;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0bcZ5Jq6UH4OjKdkcL4z_a91KX3L2V9vHSdSzpfTckBjv9YJTht8EnvdNOu3_6p9_3AkGBpPos2sMjcum4n6l_kYyW8cUdcxva19NqZ5MsubB-rST1qvZm4vDQeQ1RgCI4a-1h9yMCvQ/s1600/image001-760776.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681511422869250370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0bcZ5Jq6UH4OjKdkcL4z_a91KX3L2V9vHSdSzpfTckBjv9YJTht8EnvdNOu3_6p9_3AkGBpPos2sMjcum4n6l_kYyW8cUdcxva19NqZ5MsubB-rST1qvZm4vDQeQ1RgCI4a-1h9yMCvQ/s320/image001-760776.jpg" /></span></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bumper stickers are available from <b>Kombu Wholefoods</b> in Bellingen, <b>The Happy Frog</b> in Coffs Harbour, <b>The Clarence Environment Centre</b> in South Grafton, <b>Sawtell Paradise Fruit</b>, <b>The Sawtell Newsagency</b>, <b>Hickory Wholefoods</b> in Dorrigo, <b>Dorrigo Environment Watch Inc</b>., <b>Antimony Action</b> and local <b>NSW Greens</b> groups.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Further information about the proposed reopening of the mine and about the dangers of antimony mining in high rainfall areas is available at</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.dorrigoenvironmentwatch.org.au/index.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.dorrigoenvironmentwatch.org.au/index.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><i><a href="http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com/2011/11/new-south-wales-is-not-only-place.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">North Coast Voices</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17 November 2011:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just to remind our elected representatives in all three tiers of government that mercury and arsenic have consequences, here is a </span><a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10767877"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">media report</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> from New Zealand this month as one small community struggles with the reality of soil contamination from arsenic laden mine tailings dumped during the last century:</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><strong><i><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #632523;">The Ministry of Health advises Moanataiari residents to:</span></i></strong><i><span style="color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #632523;"><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Take care with personal hygiene (i.e. hand washing after handling soil); <br />
- Make sure children don't eat or play in soil; <br />
- Remove footwear before going indoors to avoid carrying soil dust indoors - particularly for households with very young children; <br />
- Cover soil (e.g. grassing, paving, gravel) to reduce dust and direct access by young children; <br />
- Not to eat home grown fruit and vegetables, especially young children, until further quantification of the contamination is available and the risk can be assessed, unless it is known that the garden soil is clean fill. If you choose to eat home grown fruit and vegetables, then thoroughly wash produce that may be contaminated with soil, and peel the skin off root vegetables; <br />
- Don't be concerned about the drinking water supply, it is separate (and safe); <br />
- As always, if unwell for any reason, see your doctor. </span></b></span></i><span style="color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #632523;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div>Judith M. Melvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266292998173786600noreply@blogger.com0