Are you interested in discussing Mining with our Conservation Resource Management Committee?

                               DATE:     Monday, 22nd September 2008
                               VENUE: Function Room
                                                            Mid City Motor Inn
                                                            180 John Street, Singleton
                               TIME:      6:30pm for presentations and discussions

The NSW Farmers Association Conservation Resource Management Committee will be in the Hunter region to conduct site visits of mines and mine-affected farms and you are invited to meet with them for discussions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Louise Burge 0428 984 570
Frances Vella 0428 228 818

Meeting held 26th August 2008

Present: John Maitland (Doyles Creek Mining - DCM), Craig Ransley (Resco), Andrew Poole (DCM accountant who is setting up the foundation), Peter Alcock ( secretary for the Rescue Helicopter), Bob Purser ( Rescue Helicopter), Milton Morris (Hunter Valley Training Company), Cathy Carmody, Dave Thelander, Judy Hadley, Louise Lannigan, Paul Nichols, Helen Holt, Brian Atfield, Lisa Ponder, Peter O’Brien, Di Gee, Shirley Mitchell.

John Maitland started the meeting by restating that they were “ill prepared” when they first came to see us. They have found some support from the government but are also aware of opposition. He acknowledged Dave’s letter to the minister that stated boundaries etc. as read to the community the following night. He stated that on Thursday last week Ian McDonald gave approval for DCM to make application for ELA 3465. They hope over the next 3 – 4 weeks that it will be advertised. There will be 28 days for objections. DCM is seeking to explore the Redbank and Whyborn seams, as well as the area from 3465 through Appletree and onto Doyles Creek. John Maitland stated that if they don't take on this area someone else will, now that the area has been identified as bearing coal.

Craig joined the conversation and stated that he feels the the minister is supportive of their proposal. He stressed that they need to establish where the coal is first and its quality before they go much further. He said they would like to develop a mining plan that least effects our community. DCM is willing to make conditions affecting or assisting our community part of the agreement with the government. The whole process is based on community support and approval leading to a binding agreement. He said we will have some say in the structure – placement of infastructure. He said there is also support from other mines for the training school.

They apologized for Newcastle University not being present due to the illness of its representative. However they feel that while the university students will primarily study metallurgy and geology there could also be a place for subjects like vet sciences, horticulture and hospitality.

Andrew stated there has to be a commitment to the entire process. The mine has to be commercial. They want to make an agreement with the community. When asked how the community can be sure that its wishes would be considered and conditions met it was suggested that as well as consultation with us, a member of the community could be on the board of the company and so attend its meetings.They spoke about how the industry superfunds will come on board to help finance the process. They also spoke about off shore investors ( usually who ever takes the end product) but DCM will keep control.

They are talking to United Colliery – no problems thus far.

Peter from the Rescue Helicopter said the profits from the mine will help them. He spoke about the simulator which they plan to build. There are only a couple in the entire world. Currently pilots go to Sweden for training which is quite costly. This would be a great saving in time and cost to those who wish to train pilots. There will not be many helicopters actually flying over Jerrys Plains.

Milton Morris spoke about how Hunter Valley Training Company was formed 27 years ago. It is not for profit. They have about 2000 apprentices throughout NSW and 2 workshops. He said Jerrys Plains could benefit from high speed communication systems if it goes ahead. He has a great passion for the young of Australia and wants the best for them.
They spoke a little about converting gas into LNG- with a Norwegian company. As is the usual practice the mine would operate 7 days a week , 24 hours a day.

They also spoke of benefits they would expect the communitty to see such as some increase in population as well as things that the school would need which could also be accessed by our community like medical facilities, shopping and transport.

Community Meeting held, 27th August

Paul Nichols read out the letter, requested by Craig Munnings, which outlined the proposals made to our community and its committtee over the last few months by both Wambo coal and the Doyles Creek Mining Co.

Discussion focussed primarily on the problems of ground water, should mining procceed. Paul assured the community that such issues would be addressed by the committee if mining was approved. With no definite company to approach for a plan to protect our water it is too early for the committee to do more than draw the attention of potential mining companies and the government representatives to these concerns.

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Newspapers: Meetings

Click on the images below to read.

TO THE RESIDENTS. PLEASE GIVE THE COMMITTEE YOUR OPINION ON THESE QUESTIONS

Q: HOW WILL YOU BE AFFECTED SHOULD THE PROPOSED MINING IN AND AROUND JERRY’S PLAINS PROCEED ?

Q: WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS IN RELATION TO MINING ?

Q: WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL AFFECTS AS A RESULT OF MINING ?

Send your answers to

savejerrysplains@gmail.com

Meeting with Management of Wambo Coal Mine 16/7/2008

Present: Steve Hedges, Sarah Bailey – Environment Manager, Scott Sullivan – General Manager
Committee: Louise Lannigan, Shirley Mitchell, Paul Nichols, Judy Hadley, Brian Atfield, Helen Holt

Topic of discussion – ELA 3465
The meeting was convened to enable further talks with Wambo Coal about their intent to explore and ultimately (with Government consent) mine in Jerrys Plains (JP) and surrounding area.

Contentious Issue
What defines Jerrys Plains?
Wambo Coal. The advertisement reprinted in the Singleton Argus / /08 states ‘adjacent to Jerrys Plains’ (south of JP). Wambo Coal representatives repeatedly assure the committee they will not drill/mine in the village!
Committee. The general consensus is the proposed area of exploration is blanketed by 60 & 80 km speed zones and therefore IS the village of JP, regardless of distance from JP Post Office. The hall is deemed the heart of JP village, it is the focal point for a majority of public events held in the village, and the village radiates from there.
The committee (as the representatives of JP residents) demand “an area of exclusion” be included in the future plans of Wambo Coal, however they will not come to the party at this stage as they are still in consultation with the Department of Planning re ELA 3465.

Other points of discussion
. Wambo Coal has no plans for the rest of A444 at this stage (they will let us know about that at
their leisure)
. Wambo Coal has not been in discussion with ResCo and has no relationship with them
. Scott Sullivan believes Wambo Coal would be the preferable company for ELA 3465
. Anything in mines’ proximity, in the mines’ view, is ‘acquirable’
. Wambo Coal will work with the JP community
. Will liaise in a systematic way
. Can’t make ‘problem’ go away, however can look at impacts
. Can’t guarantee JP won’t end up like Camberwell, as JP has 3 other mines in the area
. Existing plans for mining have restrictions on them already
. Peabody quotes their reserve holdings on their reports and have to show a certain level of
exploration
. When the amount of coal becomes ‘bankable’, it becomes part of reserves
. Peabody has reserves of 22 million tonnes in 10 mines across Australia. This is about 10% of
the total volume worldwide, and equates to 50% of Peabody earnings
. Australia is incredibly important to Peabody
. When Wambo has firm plans, they will return to the community with that information
. Will promote Community Support Engagement Strategy
. Looking to commence drilling in first quarter of 2009 (if awarded ELA)

Drilling
. Will clear a 20 x 20 metre area for the drilling rigs to set up
. Will drill a 6 – 8 inch (150mm – 200mm) to obtain soil/coal samples
. Do not have sites chosen yet
. Drilling will be spaced 1 km apart then 500metres apart if necessary
. Won’t cause damage to buildings
. Wambo will show residents of JP an actual drilling rig and set up. Will explain the process at a
future date.

Community concerns
. Wambos’ plans are causing angst in the community
. Properties on the market are not selling, partially due to mine influence
. Believe value of properties is influenced by vicinity of mines
. Need a buffer zone of area of exclusion so the village of JP is not seriously impacted by mining
. Believe the time frame for exploration and collation of results is too long
. JP is the oldest village in the area
. Have to keep our school open
. Only 3-4 JP residents work at Wambo, need more ‘locals’ to be employed by Wambo
. Need incentives for people to move to the area
. ELA causes concern and conflict
. ELA area covers JP future subdivision

SUMMARY OF JERRYS PLAINS MINEWATCH COMMITTEE MEETING WITH JOHN MAITLAND AT

JERRYS PLAINS HALL ON 23RD JULY 2008

Point 1 - The comments in no way reflect the individual or collective views of the committee.

Point 2 - The committee gave Mr. Maitland the opportunity to present his proposals for consideration by the community.

Point 3 - The matters raised were presented by Mr. Maitland and clarified by questions from the committee.

Point 4 - They are Mr. Maitland’s comments, not necessarily in the order that they were made, for the community to take in and comment on if they wish.

We encourage each and every one of you to respond to this website or by handing any other written comment to any member of the committee so your voice can be heard.

SUMMARY

Mr. Maitland is the Executive Director of Doyles Creek Mining Pty Limited (DCM). He has resigned his position as Chairman of ResCo Services. The Directors of DCM are Craig Ransley (ResCo), John Maitland and one Andrew Poole. Mr. Maitland still works from the offices of ResCo. Should any mining take place in this area it will be under the name of DCM.

Mr. Maitland presented a map and advised that it is the desire of DCM to create an underground mine in the Jerrys Plains area, in an arc from Jones Reserve Road just above the township, then heading in a northerly direction towards the Golden Highway, stopping just before reaching that roadway, then heading in a rough westerly direction to the Denman side of Doyles Creek. All the land that is enclosed by this line and the border of the Wollemi National Park is in the area that DCM wishes to mine. This area takes in properties on the Golden Highway leaving Jerrys Plains going towards Muswellbrook, part of Coolmore, part of Woodlands, ALL of Appletree Flat and ALL of Doyles Creek.

There is no Exploration License over this area. DCM would have to apply to the NSW Government. This area has been selected, according to Mr. Maitland after receiving advice from geologists that this coal deposit is unclaimed.

Mr. Maitland estimated that there are around 100 million tonnes of coal in this area to a depth of up to 200 metres. He stated that there was a possibility to open cut an area towards Bureen and Coolmore. After questioning, Mr. Maitland stated that if that was not acceptable to the community, it would not happen.

The proposed mine would be a 24 hour operation, employing some 100 people, with a life of 25 years. The proposed mine infrastructure, entrance, building etc, would take up an area estimated to be about 5 football fields.
The proposed mine entrance has not been considered in any great detail, however common practice would dictate that the opening will be at the point where the coal is more easily accessed. This point is roughly, off the Golden Highway on the Muswellbrook side of Jerry’s Plains.

Mr. Maitland anticipates that coal could be loaded onto a conveyor belt and hopefully transported to a washery at United Coal. It was suggested by the committee that this would be unsightly and noisy to which he agreed. It was suggested that should this go ahead, it would be better for the coal to be conveyed underground to the wash area. Mr. Maitland believed that this was a good alternative and something that would be considered. This would necessitate movement of coal across Peabody property. Mr. Maitland assured the committee that there has been no discussion with Peabody or no commercial arrangement reached with that organisation.

Mr. Maitland advised the DCM is partnering the University of Newcastle, Westpac Helicopter and a Vocational Training Academy to create a mining school in Jerry’s Plains that has the potential to train up to 150 people per year (50 to degree level and 100 in mining vocational training). He hopes that the school will bring 20 families to the village to live. In fact, Mr. Maitland stated that he was considering moving to the village. At a previous meeting, Mr. Maitland stated that if the community (i.e. Jerry’s Plains community) wanted priority in ancillary work positions within the school and mining infrastructure, it would be given strong consideration.

Further, Mr. Maitland advised that a helicopter simulator would be built at Jerry’s Plains to train helicopter pilots. This would be a static training facility with the emphasis on simulation. The question was raised whether there would be increased helicopter traffic in the area. Mr Maitland neither confirmed nor denied this.

Mr. Maitland stated that the project may be funded by Industry Super Funds, not necessarily a bank. He further stated that DCM is committed to the community, as it is essential that Jerrys Plains prospers. Part of their model was a town near a coal deposit which would support a mining school. Mr. Maitland mentioned town services, medical etc. He was not asked whether he believed that Jerry’s Plains had a medical service or DCM was going to introduce one.

Further, Mr. Maitland stated that a Trust would be established called Jerry’s Plains Community Trust where funds would be made available to the community. When pressed, Mr. Maitland talked in the millions of dollars. It was understood that monies would be available to further the community and members of the community, that is the Jerrys Plains community not the far flung ‘Hunter Valley Community’ which is often quoted.

It was suggested to Mr. Maitland that the school scenario may look like a façade merely to create a mining operation and that once the mine is established, the school could fall be the wayside. He was asked if the partners in the school have also committed to 25 years. He advised that they have not. However, he did add that a condition of granting the lease may well be that the school operates for the entirety of the mining operation.

He was asked what would happen if the venture was on-sold. Again, he reiterated that the mine lease would/could be subject to the school continuing to operate.

It was raised that underground mining would destroy the underground water that is critical for areas such as Appletree Flat and Doyles Creek. Mr. Maitland acknowledged this then said that DCM would look at this with a view of guaranteeing water supply to affected areas. How this would be achieved is not clear.

Mr. Maitland added that DCM would be happy to purchase any land affected by the mines, at market value. Although it is not required that DCM follow this path, Mr. Maitland said that they would rather do this than get into arguments with residents.

That is the conclusion of the summary. No information presented by Mr. Maitland has been verified by the committee. Please take the time to add your comments.

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BHP Story

Back off, BHP

MATTHEW CAWOOD AND ALAN DICK

24/07/2008 8:52:00 AM

Simmering tensions over BHP Billiton’s controversial plans to mine coal in a huge area of prime Liverpool Plains farming country boiled over on Monday, when landholders turned up in force to blockade a mining exploration site.

They barred BHP’s access to Tim Duddy’s property, “Rossmar Park” at Caroona, where the giant mining corporation wants to undertake exploratory drilling.

Locals say they are determined to maintain the blockade on a rolling roster until BHP agrees to a special set of land-use terms drafted by the Caroona Coal Action Group (CCAG).

BHP was granted coal exploration rights in 2006 over 250 square kilometres of some of Australia’s best farming land on the northern plains, north-west of Quirindi.

The coal resource under the plains has been estimated at half a billion tonnes, with a mine life of up to 60 years.

Local farmers and residents, led by CCAG, have waged a protracted campaign to ensure that mining doesn’t damage the plain’s agricultural interests, and are demanding an independent survey of the region’s underground terrain because of fears mining will damage the region’s water resources.

Many farmers have refused BHP access to their properties because they see the terms of access BHP proposes as inadequate.

The issue came to a head last Friday after Mr Duddy put a grader across his farm entrance gate. BHP had already done preliminary work on the property in preparation for drilling.

From The Land, July 24, 2008.

Farmers blockade coal miners in NSW

BEN CUBBY

23/07/2008 9:00:00 AM

Dozens of farming families near Gunnedah, NSW, are continuing a blockade today to stop BHP Billiton drilling to look for coal.

Tim Duddy, a sixth-generation farmer at Caroona, raised the stakes in a 12-month dispute last Friday when he parked a grader across the driveway to his property.

He was served with a court order that forced him to let the surveyors in, but friends and neighbours arrived and blocked the road with vehicles.

The protesters have settled in, with some spending a cold night beside campfires along the driveway.

BHP Billiton plans to drill about 300 bore holes - a few centimetres wide but hundreds of metres deep - across the district.

"This is beautiful farming land and we don't think it should be part of another coal mine," Mr Duddy said last night.

The mining company is about two years into a five-year exploration project and has received permission from other landholders to drill test holes.

"We need to be sensitive; this is a process that takes a long period of time," said Stephen David, the managing director of the Caroona Coal Project.

A court hearing in Gunnedah will assess Mr Duddy's case on July 31.