The Resources Minister Don Harwin paid a visit to Gunnedah to inspect the proposed site of the Shenhua Watermark coal mine.
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The minister’s visit, which comes after Shenhua lodged a licence renewal application for the Watermark coal mine, saw him take part in a round table discussion on Tuesday with representatives from local businesses to gauge their views on the proposed mine.
Members from all aspects of local business shared their views and concerns with the minister who was visiting Gunnedah for the first time.
Gunnedah chamber of commerce president Michael Broekman said the mine would benefit local business.
“Chamber took a poll and 80 per cent of chamber members polled are in favour of extraction sector expansion,” Mr Broekman said.
The minister said understanding how the community is feeling about the project is vital.
“I made a commitment to come to Gunnedah and have a look at the physical location of what is being proposed and speak with the proponents, speak with the supporters and speak with the opponents,” Mr Harwin said.
“There is certainly a lot of support for a balance between agriculture and mining in the Gunnedah region.”
Mr Harwin said the local farmers he met with earlier in the day had similar concerns.
“The farmers concerns principally are to do with the possible effect on the ground water,” he said.
Breeza Plains farmer John Hamparsum met with the minster on Tuesday morning to discuss the concerns regarding water.
“None of our fears have been assuaged regarding water,” Mr Hamparsum said.
"If anything I have more concerns now than anything else.”
Mr Hamparsum also said he believed the current balance between mining and agriculture in Gunnedah was fine.
“I don’t think they can find a new balance without damaging the Liverpool Plains.”
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said finding a balance between agriculture and mining was critical.
“Mining and agriculture is very important to Gunnedah’s economy,” Mr Anderson said.
“So what we need to do as a government now is get those checks and balances right.
“We’ve got to make sure that we look after our farmers, we look after agriculture and we look after water.”
Mr Harwin would not say when the government would make a decision regarding the Shenhua’s licence renewal application.
“The department has to do its work and when it’s done its work and considered everything that needs to be taken into consideration then no doubt they’ll send it up to me for me to have a look at,” he said.
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Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
