Faces of the future declare web war

[the*scarlet*pimpernel]

Love this photo.

So did the local rag

http://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/2874838/faces-of-the-future-declare-web-war/?cs=159

[vicr3000]

"Agricultural production on the Liverpool Plains was worth $2.4bn in 2013-14."


And how much of that will be affected by the mine ?

Certainly NOT $2.4 billion worth.

That article is long on emotion and short on some facts.

[lloydslights]

Just noticed this article from The Land.

THE clock has been stopped on the approval process for Shenhua’s controversial Watermark mega open cut coal mine in the Liverpool Plains.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt today flew up to the Liverpool Plains to announce the approval process for Watermark had been halted to allow federal advisory body, the Independent Expert Scientific Panel (IESC), to review the project.

“It will take as long as it takes,” Mr Hunt said. As federal Environment Minister he holds the ultimate decision on Shenhua’s Watermark application.

http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/shenhua-stalled-on-liverpool-plains/2725002....

DEB

[vicr3000]

A very good video indeed.

[debra9275]

THE clock has been stopped on the approval process for Shenhua’s controversial Watermark mega open cut coal mine in the Liverpool Plains.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt today flew up to the Liverpool Plains to announce the approval process for Watermark had been halted to allow federal advisory body, the Independent Expert Scientific Panel (IESC), to review the project.

“It will take as long as it takes,” Mr Hunt said. As federal Environment Minister he holds the ultimate decision on Shenhua’s Watermark application.

On January 29 the NSW government approved the project, following assessment by its independent appro...

Shenhua plans to dig a 10 million tonne per annum open cut coal mine in ridge country above the Breeza Plain. At issue for farmers is fear of significant impact to groundwater resources on some of the most productive cropping country in Australia.

Liverpool Plains producers are unconvinced by the studies prepared by Shenhua, which said draw-down on aquifers would be modest and interconnectivity between groundwater systems would be limited.

that is good news, but I hope they don't mean they're just putting it on hold till after the election

[vicr3000]

Whoever is from the local area, do you know much about the Aboriginal sites on this land ?

The lady mentioned, Burial sites, Sacred sites, Man sites, Woman sites.

Any ideas ?

[the*scarlet*pimpernel]

that is good news, but I hope they don't mean they're just putting it on hold till after the election

I think that is exactly what they mean.  You can bet within a week post elections Shenhua will get the final go ahead

There have been something like 11 projects  before the Environmental minister since 2000 and they have all been approved.

We have legislation to protect the environment, protect the animals, protect the farming land, protect the aboriginal sites, and they all go out the window when mining enters the scene.

The most significant aboriginal site on the proposed mine site is the Grinding Grooves stone.  This is where the menfolk sharpened their axes and stone cutting tools. A bit like the whetstones used to sharpen knives I suppose. Some of the grooves are quite deep. They have swung the tools on a 'string' in a pendulum action. The depth of some of these grooves indicate that the local people were quite tall compared to others.  I know there are some burial sites on farm land around the plains but I don't know about the ridge country. I'd say not.  There are other small artifacts but the grinding grooves is the big one.

Shenhua have said they will move the  stone and put it back in 17 years time.  It seems unlikely that they can move this rock in one piece so they will have to cut it up. This is what is upsetting to the Gomeroi. It will destroy the integrity of the rock and it will be changing the landscape. It won't be the same rock, the same the country that the Gomeroi stood upon. 

Shenhua will tell you that the local aboriginals didn't even know about the grinding grooves. Poppycock. These sites are kept quiet, not spruiked about. Sites have been lost and destroyed because farmers fear they won't be able to use their land if it has any sort of indigenous artifacts or connectioons.  In the past they have deliberately destroyed or covered up any artifacts.

I have tried to find a photo of the stone. I know there is one picture out there somewhere but I can't find it.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2014/12/12/4147339.htm

Shenhua - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-31/gomeroi-artefacts-to-be-preserved-if-mine-approved3a-shenhua/5...

Gomeroi Response  http://frontlineaction.org/grinding-grooves/

We can't go and see the grinding groove site. It's on Shenhua owned land and they have cited WH&S as the reason why.

We have an amazing and unique country. We should be protecting and preserving the culture of the traditional owners, not cutting it up and sticking it in museums or cages in parks. It's not like ancient egyptian artifacts.  We are still connected to this cutlure. It maybe thousands of years old but it is not a dead culture..

No doubt we'll be accused of being 'emotional' again, but sheesh it's hard not to be

[vicr3000]

Pimpy

Thank you. Much appreciated.

Both sides keep them quiet. I have been told not to say anything when I found stuff in NSW.

I also look after some sites up north, mainly because the locals couldn't be bothered which is a shame. One is a cemetery, one is a camping, eating ground we have to kill, cut back the vegetation so it doesn't get over grown.

[gleee58]

We have legislation to protect the environment, protect the animals, protect the farming land, protect the aboriginal sites, and they all go out the window when mining enters the scene.

Are those pieces of legislation safe from the "red tape days"?  They're the days where the feds try to ram through as much repeal legislation as they can and the environmental ones are at the top of the list because they conflict with the aim of a one stop fast mining approval shop.

[the*scarlet*pimpernel]

Both sides keep them quiet

Yes they do. The landholders are (ignorantly) afraid they will have their land taken away and the aboriginals are afraid the landholders will destroy it. The Red Chief folk are trying to document all the sites in this area so they have a written map sort of thing.They don't want to annex the land they just want to be able to have a record of their family history so to speak.

Glee, do I haveto answer that? 'coz I don't know. I just know that at last weeks polly meeting one of them stood up and thats what he told us. We were also told, in not so many words that there wasn't anything that could stop this mine. If anyone has a previously undiscovered grub or frog or beetle or something in their back pocket, it would be really good if you could sprinkle a few of them around the ridges. Ta muchly.