Jerrys Plains
,
New South Wales
Message
I'm objecting to the Bulga Open Cut extension project.
I am a landowner of a beef grazing property located at Appletree Flat, approximately 30km from Bulga.
Our farm has produced beef cattle for approximately 100 years.
I've noticed an increase in the amount of airborne dust in the last 20 years. In my opinion, this is as a direct result of the increasing size and number of open cut coal mines in the area. I've witnessed the dust blowing from the mines in the Bulga area.
Not only are mines risking the health of people in the vicinity because of the heavy metals contained in the dust, they are destroying land that was once valuable farmland. I do not accept that mining land can be rehabilitated to what it was previously.
There appears to be no consideration as to the cumulative effects of mining. Why the hell not? The destruction and scarring of the visual amenity of the Hunter from open cut mining is very depressing.
The scarring upon the Hunter environment from open cut mines is so massive, it can clearly be seen from space. There appears to be little or no consideration given to the future of the land or people in 20 years time when the open cuts will have moved on. What about the economic loss of farmland that can produce food indefinitely? Why isn't that weighed up against the so-called economic benefit of mining? This short term mindset has to stop.
I've attached a satellite photo of the Hunter Valley to clearly illustrate the massive scale of scarring that has been left by open cut mines. Its a disgrace.
For these reasons, I am objecting in the strongest terms possible to this mine being allowed to expand.
Enough is enough. No more.
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