Bridging The Divide - Kingaroy - Day 1
October 3, 2016On Saturday October 1st 2016, I boarded a bus departing from Brisbane’s Roma Street Transit Centre to visit the South Burnett region as part of a tour run by rural advocacy group Bridging The Divide. Together the tour group heard first hand the issues that are presented with the advent of a proposed coal mine. We met with people who toil the soil to grow organic vegetables, farmers whose families have grown peanuts for generations and viticulturists who create award-winning wines.
Kingaroy is the largest town in the South Burnett and is central to this diverse and beautiful region. The town is surrounded by picturesque farmlands interspersed with low rolling hills and has an emerging tourism industry with wineries, star gazing and a wide range of recreational activities. Kingaroy is a town that is threatened by a proposed open cut coal mine just 4.5km from the CBD in Coolabunia.
10 Things You Should Know About the Mine:
1. The Mayor, and both State and Federal Members have expressed their opposition to the location of this mine.
2. It is to be positioned very close to Kingaroy near the end of the Airport.
3. Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group (KCCG) has info and statistics about the possible impact of a coal mine on Kingaroy land prices.
4. KCCG will present detailed information about dust and its likely impact on residential areas all around Kingaroy.
5. The latest proposal by the company has the prospect of trains taking coal by rail through Kingaroy to ports like Bundaberg.
6. The company states there is likely to be “on-tenement access to the Stuart River to potentially dilute treated water discharges of mine-affected water.”
7. The company says that the issue of mine water upstream from the town water supply (Gordonbrook Dam) will be an “emotive issue” for the town.
8. The coal mine dust is likely to affect community health and drinking water in tanks collected from roofs.
9. The initial mine location is likely to be the first in a series of mine stages, which includes a tenement that extends out to Brooklands.
10. The company has not yet said that it has a market for its coal.
After a three hour bus ride, the tour group arrived at ’Bethany’, a Bed and Breakfast business in Coolabunia (which is the resting place of Queensland’s longest-serving Premier). Owners John and Karyn, as well as members of the Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group were there to welcome the tour group and lunch was provided by a paddock-to-plate business.
Before heading to Greenacres Organic Farm, the tour group pulled over on the side of the road to spot the Tarong Power Station and Meandu Mine. Earlier this year, Meandu’s mine’s owner Stanwell Corporation extended a contract to Australian engineering company Downer EDI to provide mining services for the mine at Tarong.
The Blanch family at Greenacres Organic Farm in Coolabunia have been farming their land organically for sixty years and have been suppling Food Connect since 2004. They’re also the only certified organic peanut farm in Australia. Lois and Evan gave a brief rundown of how their farm functions and also handed out samples of their produce (sweet-tasting carrots and of course, PEANUTS), which was available for purchase .
The O’Sullivans’ beef producing property was next on the itinerary. Just beyond the tree-line in the background of the below image is where the rehabilitated Cougar underground coal gasification site is. UCG was banned in Queensland earlier this year. The O’Sullivans’ property neighbours the proposed coal mine site.
Kingsley Grove Estate was founded by the Berry family in 1998 and is operated by the family. After Simon’s passionate and informative tour, everyone received the opportunity to taste the various wines on offer, as well as Patricia’s home-made wine ice-cream. Dinner was also provided by Simon and Pat - pizza (cooked in-house using a wood fire oven).
Visiting Kingsley Grove was the perfect way to unwind before later heading to the Kingaroy Observatory (formerly Maidenwell Observatory) located at the Kingaroy Airport, 4 kilometres from town. Run by full time astronomer James Barclay and his wife, Lyn, the observatory is not only another popular tourist attraction that would be severely affected by the proposed coal mine (mostly because of the coal dust causing poor viewing conditions), but also Queensland’s largest, self-funded astronomical observatory!
Below is a video which provides perspectives of the local community regarding the impacts of a proposed open cut coal mine 4km from Kingaroy. This short film includes interviews with local Kingaroy farmers, landholders, business owners, residents and the Mayor. Many thanks to Mark and Rey - Independent film makers, for your time and generosity towards making this film.
10 Things You Need To Do To Stop This Coal Mine:
- Check out, like and share using the KCCG Facebook Page
- Express your opposition to the location of the mine, and write, email, phone or meet with your local, state or federal representatives.
- Research coal mine related topics, especially about dust, noise and water.
- Donate funds to KCCG so they can respond to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), acquire information, and hold meetings.
- Join KCCG or other groups responding to the prospect of the mine being approved in the proposed location.
- Join one of the groups set up to respond to the mine application.
- Write, phone or meet with Moreton Resources and tell them you do not support or give them social licence to mine near Kingaroy. MRV: Phone (07) 3831 6088 or 0478 152 219
- Speak to your neighbours to see whether they are aware of and understand the mine, its effects and its location.
- Buy a “No Kingaroy Coal Mine” sign, display it on your fence or car, and buy one for your neighbour too!
- Write a letter to the editor or ring up a local news service explaining how you feel about the mine.
Useful links:
How Gasification Works - How Stuff Works
Plans lodged for thermal coal mine near Kingaroy in South Burnett region - ABC News
Mine could destroy tourism - South Burnett Times
Why ‘dark sky’ status could boost South Burnett tourism - South Burnett Times
Crowd Votes Down Mine … Again - SouthBurnett.com.au
Bridging The Divide Inc. Facebook Page
Knitting Nannas Against Gas Facebook Page