A group of Namoi Valley farmers have met to discuss the possible impacts Whitehaven Coal’s planned Narrabri underground coal mine extension project will have on their properties and water in the district.
The farmers met at Baan Baa on January 27 to share information in the lead up to the Independent Planning Commission’s hearing into the project, which recently received the green light from the NSW Planning Department.
The IPC will hold its online public hearing into the expansion on February 14.
“The coal mine extension, if built, would be responsible for nearly half a billion tonnes of carbon emissions,” a Lock the Gate spokesperson claimed.
“It would also cause major subsidence in the Pilliga Forest, a 10-metre drop in groundwater levels and reduce water flowing into the Namoi River.
“Whitehaven has also admitted at least nine water bores relied on by farmers would be drained by more than two metres, rendering them useless.
“Locals have been quiet so far in response to the proposal, but will be making a lot of noise during the IPC hearing,” Boggabri farmer Sally Hunter said.
“There is widespread landholder opposition to this mine, but in the last 16 months, locals have fought Santos’ Narrabri coal seam gasfield, Whitehaven’s Vickery coal mine, and are now up against Whitehaven’s Narrabri underground coal mine.
“We are tired, and we have farms to run.
“It feels foolish to do the same thing and expect a different result, but we will give Whitehaven hell when the IPC holds its hearing.
“We can’t afford to let agriculture be pushed out of our district.
“I am gobsmacked to learn Whitehaven wants to locate a noisy methane vent just a kilometre from our dwelling,” Narrabri farmer Stuart Murray said
“It will be as loud as a jet engine and it will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Mr Murray said.
“It is going to make my place utterly unliveable.”
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