Letter: Mining Exploration Licence application to strip mine the Port Macquarie-Hasting area

Mrs Leslie Williams, MP

Suite 6

27 Grant Street

PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444

Phone: (02) 6584 0977

email: portmacquarie@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Dear Mrs Williams

It is with great alarm that I read in local newspapers of a proposal by a mining company to explore with a view to develop open-cut strip mining of metal minerals in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area.  The reports make mention of acid leaching and other toxic materials. See http://www.portnews.com.au/story/4646608/mining-exploration-licence-lodged-to-explore-hastings/

The reported exploration area includes swathes of urban Port Macquarie, Thrumster and Lake Innes.  It also includes and encloses the Coworra Dam which hosts our domestic water supply.  At risk of this potential exploitative development are:

·          75 square kilometres including our urban and partly urban areas, small villages and rural holdings, local state forests, creeks, rivers and lakes;

·         The water quality of our region;

·         Our air quality;

·         Peace and tranquillity;

·         The amenity of our living environment and our lifestyles;

·         The very valuable tourism component of our economy (who wants to run a marathon in a mine pit?).

My wife and I moved here from Sydney to escape this type of lunacy a few years back.  Not in my wildest dreams did I suspect that this beautiful area could potentially be subject to the deprivations of the destructive mining industry. 

I am hoping that your government does not have a plan to replicate the dreadful environmental damage caused by mining in the Hunter Valley here at Port Macquarie.

I am not reassured by the silence of community leaders (including yourself) on this vital issue to all the citizens and voters of this region.

I imagine that if your government allows this mining proposal to proceed you will be faced with a campaign of such a magnitude to dwarf the Gloucester anti-fracking, Close the Gate and  the Gordon below Franklin campaigns.  I’d anticipate that even the blue-rinse set and the guests of all the regions retirement villages might be banning the barricades on this one.

Of course my concerns about your governments plans might be totally misplaced. 

Perhaps you would be kind enough to let me know what your personal view (as a member of this community) and your professional (i.e. government) perspectives might be.

Yours faithfully

(Name not printed)