Denman residents came together to voice their concerns surrounding the proposed Spur Hill mine at a public meeting on Monday afternoon.
The overwhelming message at the Denman Memorial Hall was that such a development would not be welcomed and the community will fight it to the end.
A crowd of about 80 residents were present at the Denman Memorial Hall to hear from State Member for Upper Hunter George Souris, Muswellbrook mayor Martin Rush and representatives from the thoroughbred and winemaking industries.
Notably absent from the meeting were exploration licence holders Roger Turner and Antony Turner who informed meeting organiser and Denman Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Craig Benjamin they were unable to attend on Friday.
The NSW Government granted an exploration licence to Monaro Mining, which has since become Australian-American Mining Company, for the 34 square kilometre project 10km east of Denman late last year despite considerable objections from the community and Muswellbrook Shire Council.
The concerns raised by those present focused on the health of residents and the impact on Denman’s environment and tourism industry.
The speakers present were in clear opposition to the project going ahead. Mr Souris said the region already had more than enough mines and another was unnecessary.
“I feel the electorate of Upper Hunter has become quite a victim here due to the sheer amount of mining developments. I feel we’re up to our eyeballs in mines in this immediate Hunter Valley area,” he said.
He said that the relative ease by which mining companies could get the ball rolling reflected a flawed system.
“The fundamental flaw is that the Department of Minerals and Resources is that they are the only ones involved in the assessment and I think those days have to be numbered,” he said.
“I’ve seen three refusals in my 20 or 30 years in government, a grant of exploration seems almost responsible for the grant of a development application. It took nine years for the Bickham mine to eventually be rejected and I think Denman has similar grounds to fight this one.”
Cr Rush made clear that council had been against the Spur Hill mine from the start and would continue working to ensure production does not begin.
“Council opposes the Spur Hill proposal and I want to assure the community that council intends to fight the Spur Hill lease,” he said.
“Spur Hill will be within what council defines as too close to a domestic area and too close to throughbred breeding areas and the alluvial flats.”
Cr Rush also raised concerns over the excessive use of transport in the local area with council’s road expenditure remaining static despite the amount of coal doubling as a result of rate pegging.
The rail lines would also be affected by the Spur Hill mine with the mayor pointing out that it would mean Denman’s rail line would be carrying 10 times more coal than at Scone.
Email a friend