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Anvil Hill commencement signals further coal expansion in Upper Hunter
Wednesday, 04 March 2009
Following the commencement of works yesterday on the Xstrata ownedMangoola coal mine at Anvil Hill, outside Muswellbrook, Greens MP and
mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has urged the Government to drop its
push to expand coal mining further up the Wybong Valley.
"The Anvil Hill mine was furiously contested by the Greens and the
community because of its devastating impact on the local environment and
climate change, and now the Government and Xstrata look set to massively
expand the operation," said Ms Rhiannon.
"Construction has commenced at the Xstrata Mangoola mine at Anvil Hill,
and already many large habitat trees have been destroyed to build new
roads.
"Xstrata has already reneged on its original agreement to avoid using
local roads to move mining machinery by building a new road from the
Bengalla mine to the Mangoola mine.
"So far Xstrata has won two bids to vary the mine's conditions of
consent, one to use local roads and another to change the location of
its pumping station on the Hunter River.
"The community should not trust Xstrata or the Government to do the
right thing by the local environment.
"Now we know that all along Xstrata and the NSW Government had plans to
massively expand its operations at Anvil Hill.
"The NSW Government has issued a tender for a new exploration lease on
land near the Mangoola mine site, stretching further up the Wybong
Valley.
"We understand that so far Xstrata is the only company to lodge a
tender application.
"The current Mangoola mine will produce 10 million tonnes of coal each
year. When burnt this will generate 26 million tonnes of CO².
"We cannot afford to continue expanding coal mining in NSW – the
climate change consequences are too dangerous.
"I urge the NSW Government to abandon its plans to expand coal mining
near Anvil Hill," said Ms Rhiannon.
For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
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