ANTI-COAL campaigners have slammed the NSW government over planning law changes that ensure economic interests are considered above all else when deciding on major mining projects.
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The criticism comes after Resources Minister Chris Hartcher this week announced a proposed mine’s economic significance, in terms of job creation, regional expenditure and royalties, would take primacy.
The controversial changes, expected to be gazetted by the end of the week, apply only to the mining of coal and other minerals and precious metals – not coal seam gas, petroleum or other extractive industries.
Caroona Coal Action Group spokesman Tim Duddy said the amendments were “totally outrageous” and swung the balance of power even further in favour of mining companies at the expense of agriculture.
“In light of the controversy that’s going on in the Liverpool Plains and other areas, it is totally outrageous that they put commercial interests and jobs in the mining industry above every other consideration,” Mr Duddy said.
“The mining industry is under siege because of its irresponsible behaviour environmentally and this sort of heavy-handed intervention does absolutely nothing to make the community feel any safe or more protected under this process.”
Steve Phillips from the Lock the Gate Alliance said it was inexcusable for the government to allow money to trump considerations such as water security, biosecurity and community health.
“The minister is proposing an utter surrender by the government of this state to coalmining interests – and the abandonment of any semblance of balance in decision-making,” he said.
“This is a complete reversal of the promises which the NSW government made prior to the 2011 election – they promised to restore balance to protect water, farmland and communities – but instead this measure completely biases the system even further in favour of coal companies. The minister may think that mining company profits are more important than anything else, but that’s not what we believe.
“We believe that our kids should have clean air to breathe, that farmers should have land to farm, and that water is more precious than coal.”
But Mr Hartcher maintained the changes were necessary in order to instil confidence in investors and help grow an industry already worth $23 billion to the state.
