COUNCIL MUST ELECT A MAYOR TO DEFEND AGAINST COAL MINING
Announcement posted by Battle4Berrima 15 Sep 2015
COUNCIL MUST ELECT A MAYOR TO DEFEND AGAINST COAL MINING
15 September 2015
Wingecarribee Shire Councillors are being encouraged to elect a Mayor to protect the Southern Highlands against the devastating impacts of coal mining.
The call from the Battle4Berrima Association comes as Councils including Newcastle City Council commit themselves to ‘coal free’ futures.
“The election of our new Mayor for the next year is an opportunity to put the health, water, environment and sustainable economy of the Southern Highlands first”, said Acting President Rod Blay.
“In a year that will see Hume Coal continue to pursue its plans to mine one of the agricultural jewels of Australia, we are asking Councillors to step up and elect a Mayor who will put the well-being of our community first.
“The Southern Highlands Community is seeing Hume Coal’s plans for what they really are.
“A short-term exploitation, which will deliver long-term impacts across the Southern Highlands including:
‘The Wingecarribee Shire needs a Mayor on the right side of history when it comes to stopping Hume Coal and preventing any coal mine in the Southern Highlands”.
“Call your local Councillor today and get them to vote for a Mayor who will protect our community”, said Mr Blay.
Media Contact for Battle4Berrima: Julian Brophy 0408 276 749
Battle for Berrima Inc
(Incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009)
Wingecarribee Shire Councillors are being encouraged to elect a Mayor to protect the Southern Highlands against the devastating impacts of coal mining.
The call from the Battle4Berrima Association comes as Councils including Newcastle City Council commit themselves to ‘coal free’ futures.
“The election of our new Mayor for the next year is an opportunity to put the health, water, environment and sustainable economy of the Southern Highlands first”, said Acting President Rod Blay.
“In a year that will see Hume Coal continue to pursue its plans to mine one of the agricultural jewels of Australia, we are asking Councillors to step up and elect a Mayor who will put the well-being of our community first.
“The Southern Highlands Community is seeing Hume Coal’s plans for what they really are.
“A short-term exploitation, which will deliver long-term impacts across the Southern Highlands including:
- Breaching the sandstone aquifer and allowing up to 4800 Olympic swimming pools of water to drain into the mine
- Lowering groundwater by 150 metres, according to a UNSW expert study for SHCAG
- Affecting groundwater across 300 sq km, according to Hume Coal’s own data
- Seriously compromising existing bores on farms, rural and residential properties, including running them dry
- Impacting on local drinking water supplies
- Releasing dangerous micro-coal particulates into the air we breathe
- Threatening established jobs and a sustainable service economy
- Environmental damage including potentially irreversible impacts on the aquifer
‘The Wingecarribee Shire needs a Mayor on the right side of history when it comes to stopping Hume Coal and preventing any coal mine in the Southern Highlands”.
“Call your local Councillor today and get them to vote for a Mayor who will protect our community”, said Mr Blay.
Media Contact for Battle4Berrima: Julian Brophy 0408 276 749
Battle for Berrima Inc
(Incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009)