13 August 2011, Page: 7
NOT long ago Bacchus Marsh was a country town notable for two things: its Avenue of Honour elm trees honouring World War I soldiers and the produce from its market gardens.It is now at the heart of a population growth corridor between Melbourne and Ballarat, and home to a growing number of commuters. This week some landowners learnt they could have anew neighbour: an opencut coal mine. Mantle Mining, which has a brown coal exploration licence to the town's south-east, told the stock exchange a drilling plan had been approved and it expected to set up rigs this month.
The company had advertised its plans locally as required, but harness racing stable owner Kate Tubbs says many were unaware until a public meeting on Monday. "I don't think there was one person that was in favour of coal mining", she says from her property five kilometres from Bacchus Marsh. "I think the company came expecting acceptance, but we had more than 60 people there and they were worried. Some were angry".
The concerned include 81-year-old Bruce McDonald, whose family has farmed at Parwan all his life. Like Mrs Tubbs, he has been told the company wants to drill on his land. "I don't think I can stop them really", he says. "In my opinion it is just too close to Bacchus Marsh for a coal mine".
Conflict between farmers and resources companies in New South Wales and Queensland have centred on coal seam gas projects. Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott backed the farmers, saying: "If you don't want something to happen on your land, you ought to have a right to say no".
In Victoria, there has been a lesser focus on proposals for a brown coal export industry. Mantle Mining aims to develop an open-cut mine near the existing Maddingley Mine, where a small amount of coal is extracted to make fertiliser. It says new drying technology can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal by 40%, opening up a lucrative export market to India. Its export plan hit a snag last month when it withdrew an application to explore for coal at Deans Marsh following strong local opposition.
Opponents say new coal mine proposals threaten farmland and are at odds with tackling climate change. Mantle responds that China and India will continue to use coal and helping them lower emissions makes sense. The Baillieu government supports the development of new brown coal industries, but only a fraction of exploration licences evolve into full mining licences.
Mantle Mining managing director Ian Kraemer told Parwan residents that most exploration would be on roadside sites, but the company had the right to drill on private land if the owner was compensated. He also indicated that, unlike at Deans Marsh, he planned to proceed with an application for a full mining licence despite local opposition if it proved economically viable.
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