NSW Greens resources spokesman Jeremy
Buckingham today congratulated the people of Gloucester for fighting off
the proposed Rocky Hill coal mine after it was recommended for
rejection by the Department
of Planning.
The
Department of Planning’s report concludes:
“The
Department does not believe that the impacts of [the mine’s] proximity
are able to be dealt with through conditions to the consent, and as a
result
the Department has not made any recommendations in relation to possible
conditions. Having assessed all matters relevant to the amended project
as set out in this report, the Department does not consider that the
amended project is able to or should be approved,
and the Department does not recommend that the Commission approve the
development.” [page iii]
“Has the worm finally turned? Finally some common sense from the Department of Planning on a mine application in NSW!” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.
“The Planning Assessment Commission should
now reject this mine and the government should cancel the exploration
licence for the area to give the residents of Gloucester some certainty
for the future.
“This is fantastic news for the people of
Gloucester. The mine was far too close to residential areas and
impacted good agricultural land and would have severely impacted the
town and the valley.
“Gloucester should be a hub for tourism, agriculture and lifestyle. The Greens congratulate the
Gloucester Groundswell community group and all the residents who campaigned to preserve the beauty and amenity of their wonderful valley.
“This resilient community has fought off
AGL’s proposed 300 coal seam gas wells, and now a coal mine that would
have come within a kilometre of the town. It shows that gaining a
social licence to operate
should not be dismissed by corporate leaders.
23 October 2017
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