PROPERTY owners around Swiss mining giant Xstrata’s massive coal development at Wandoan say there is a “gold rush mentality” developing as mining companies jostle to unveil energy projects across the Surat Basin.
There’s underlying concern that coal seam gas and mining activities are being sanctioned at the expense of food production, jeopardising a swathe of rural communities who are being forced to give up thousands of hectares of prime cropping lands to the developing energy hub.
Lobby group The Wandoan Clean Food Alliance demonstrates the strength of feeling throughout the district by banding together to detail its “anxiety, frustration and insecurity” at the way in which events are unfolding.
Anne Pitkin, Winston, maintains coal seam gas and coal mining projects continue to jeopardise the Great Artesian Basin, “our biggest asset,” by risking contamination of its water.
“Xstrata doesn’t seem to realise they are playing with real people’s lives, and this is a terrible thing happening to our farming community,” Ms Pitkin said.
Anne Pitkin, who says the community’s lives have been on hold for far too long, said: “Once you destroy our land, you will never ever get it back and no amount of money is worth the destruction you (Xstrata) are going to do to our land, lives and future generations.
Colin and Terri Boyce, Everest, say Xstrata’s proposal to mine some 30 million tonnes a coal a year from their mining leases at Wandoan will destroy the social fabric and economy of a small rural community based around some of the best dual purpose farming and grazing land in Australia.
“This community contributes millions of dollars worth of agricultural produce to the Australian economy, and has done so for the past 150 years, and will continue to for many generations to come,” the Boyce family says.
“This mine should be stopped - it is short-term financial greed versus-long term viability of "A" Class food-producing land.”
And Jill Conway, Currawong, says she is “appalled” the elected government has allowed a predominately non-Australian company to turn prime agricultural land into an industrial wasteland for a short-term financial gain for a resource boom bourne out of Chinese and Indian demand.
“It will leave Australia unable to produce food for future generations,” Ms Conway said.
The Sands family, Avalon, share similar sentiments.
“Our children's children will question how we could have been so stupid as to lose this wonderful food-growing land,” Mardi Sands said.
Questioning who will make sure the rules of mining are enforced - especially with regard to contamination of water – sees Brian Sands highlighting a “gold rush” mentality on behalf of the resources sector, adding the approach would deliver short-term gain for long-term losses.
Adrian and Marion Sharp, Anchorbar, say drillers have dropped parthenium seed around their property – denied by the company concerned - and that neighbours have received false information to the effect they have sold out to Xstrata.
“We know for a fact that this happened because our neighbour told us,” the Sharp’s say.
Alan and Karen Postle, Sylvan Hill, say Xstrata’s “hand-on-heart” commitment at one meeting often is “totally overturned” at the next.
Cowan and Helen Keys, Langowan, make the point that 90 percent of the land for the proposed Xstrata Wandoan mine is classified by the state government as Class A land type, ie brigalow uplands, non-cracking clays.
“So why has Xstrata now put the land classification on the EIS for this mine as Class C land, and why has the Co-ordinator General just copied this out of the EIS - instead of checking their own database?” the Keys question.
A similar viewpoint is held John Erbacher, East Lynne, who is concerned the mining industry is pressuring the Queensland government to change criteria in its proposed Strategic Cropping Land (SCL) legislation.
“The brigalow uplands in the Wandoan district have been producing economically viable crops for 40 to 50 years, without the addition of fertiliser, and the limiting factor to cropping is still moisture and rainfall.
“If the Queensland government wants the Wandoan mine to go ahead at any cost, then the proposed SCL legislation should not be compromised as the Minister will have the discretion under the legislation to over-ride the SCL,” John Erbacher said.
Meanwhile, Pat Devlin, Carmody Downs, draws attention to the government’s “great hypocrisy” by prosecuting farmers through its Vegetation Management laws for, on the hand, destroying regrowth, while handing out approvals to Xstrata which could potentially destroy over 200,000 acres of good agricultural land.
“Does the government really think that cutting down trees is worse than the total destruction of prime agricultural land - or are the decisions only about short-term monetary gains for the government’s coffers and the financial gain of large multinationals,” Mr Devlin said.
Footnote: A spokesman for Xstra Coal said the organisation would continue to hold forums to address community concerns on a one-on-one basis.
“We are not over-playing what would be a difficult situation – for those individuals - as regards to acquiring that land,” he said.
“It would be a very emotional experience for many.
“That’s why we’ve tried to be consultative for the last four years – and we are going to keep doing it,” Xstrata Coal’s spokesperson said.
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