An informative newsletter was recently circulated and included concerns about the Centennial complaint handling policy, Mandalong haul road, the Cenntenial sale to Banpu and the following outcome of the auger mine issue.
Greg Piper’s Private Member’s Bill to clarify the State Environmental Planning Policy 2007(mining) with regard to the ban on Open Cut Mining in Lake Macquarie has been defeated in Parliament.Labor voted as a block and the Opposition didn’t attend so as not to ‘offend the miner’. There was however a change to the legislation introduced by Kristina Kenneally in late 2009, that leaves the door open for ‘above ground auger mining’.
On this matter BAM has written to all local State MPs to get support for Mr Piper’s Bill and to clarify the Government’s position on Open-cut mining in our area. Not one of them supported Mr Piper and Matthew Morris, Member for Charlestown, was a government;s speaker to oppose the Bill. Paul’s Moors is now the President of BAM and can be contacted on moors@aapt.net.au.
Showing posts with label Olstan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Olstan. Show all posts
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Monday, 31 May 2010
Out and About -Olstan Update and Electrickery
The Progress Association receives information about local issues from other groups and attends meetings when invited. Following are some of the activities in the last month.
Olstan Update
You may recall the proposed Olstan Open Cut-Auger mine out at Blackalls Park that was withdrawn by Centennial Coal, and then the Private Members Bill being put forth by our intrepid State Member Greg Piper to achieve clarity in the Planning Instrument to prevent a similar proposition being put forward again, and again and again.
Olstan Update
You may recall the proposed Olstan Open Cut-Auger mine out at Blackalls Park that was withdrawn by Centennial Coal, and then the Private Members Bill being put forth by our intrepid State Member Greg Piper to achieve clarity in the Planning Instrument to prevent a similar proposition being put forward again, and again and again.
Here’s an update from a recent briefing session The Progress Association attended.
• Greg Piper had to apply personally under Freedom of Information to obtain information about the Olstan Auger mine as it was not deemed ‘in the public interest’.
• The information that was handed over was scant in content with one thing being very clear, at no time did Centennial Coal receive advice from the Government that the proposed auger mine would be prohibited by the Planning Instrument.
• Concerns over the discrepancy between Centennial’s denial of advice and the Government purporting to give advice raise a significant issue. If the government’s stance on the mine being prohibited was certain, why didn’t it inform Centennial Coal or the hundreds of residents who asked for clarity?
• Greg Piper had to apply personally under Freedom of Information to obtain information about the Olstan Auger mine as it was not deemed ‘in the public interest’.
• The information that was handed over was scant in content with one thing being very clear, at no time did Centennial Coal receive advice from the Government that the proposed auger mine would be prohibited by the Planning Instrument.
• Concerns over the discrepancy between Centennial’s denial of advice and the Government purporting to give advice raise a significant issue. If the government’s stance on the mine being prohibited was certain, why didn’t it inform Centennial Coal or the hundreds of residents who asked for clarity?
Greg Piper MP has written to the Planning Minister Tony Kelly to seek support for the Private Members Bill.
Electrickery
Whilst in the realm of Stately things that filter back down to the hip pocket, there is a petition circulating expressing concerns about a recent ruling on electricity pricing. There are recommendations being made by the Pricing Tribunal that will see increases of 20% for Integral Energy customers, 36% for Energy Australia and 42% for Country Energy customers. These increases are in spite of the cost of energy production having decreased by 6.7% in 2009.
Electrickery
Whilst in the realm of Stately things that filter back down to the hip pocket, there is a petition circulating expressing concerns about a recent ruling on electricity pricing. There are recommendations being made by the Pricing Tribunal that will see increases of 20% for Integral Energy customers, 36% for Energy Australia and 42% for Country Energy customers. These increases are in spite of the cost of energy production having decreased by 6.7% in 2009.
Several shops at the Carey Bay Shopping Village have the petitions, whilst the due date states 31st May they will be accepted the week after.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
BAM Update
At a recent committee meeting Paul Moors from Blackalls Against the Mine (BAM) popped by to say a few words about Centennial’s Olstan project.
Whilst the mine did not go ahead, there were three different reasons given for the decision. Centennial said it was uneconomical , State MP/Mayor Piper said it was lobbying, State MP Jody Mackay said the Planning Instrument was upheld and determined it to be a prohibited application.
Paul raised the following:
The Olstan project has now been exposed as a prohibited mine, so it seems fair to ask why were the community, the LMCC (ratepayers) and the State Government (tax payers) made to bear the unnecessary cost, effort and stress imposed by Olstan?
Centennial must release all technical studies it promised throughout the Olstan episode so that the unbelievable
statements it made can be compared to the scientific information available. Centennial has refused to provide these studies stating that their promises to release these studies are null and void now that they have withdrawn the Olstan project.
The community has a right, and an obligation to examine these studies to determine if Centennial’s statements have the same fatal flaws as its Olstan proposal. Unless the community can verify that these studies support Centennial’s statements then every Centennial statement and future project must be treated as spurious and opposed by the community. Unless this matter of credibility is cleared up, Centennial has poisoned the well for itself and other miners when it comes to trustworthiness.
I encourage you and your members to raise any questions about Centennials operations to Newstan 1800 247 662, Awaba 4959 3420 or through email ceyl@centennialcoal.com.au . Don’t forget to keep a record of your complaint for future reference.
Whilst the mine did not go ahead, there were three different reasons given for the decision. Centennial said it was uneconomical , State MP/Mayor Piper said it was lobbying, State MP Jody Mackay said the Planning Instrument was upheld and determined it to be a prohibited application.
Paul raised the following:
The Olstan project has now been exposed as a prohibited mine, so it seems fair to ask why were the community, the LMCC (ratepayers) and the State Government (tax payers) made to bear the unnecessary cost, effort and stress imposed by Olstan?
Centennial must release all technical studies it promised throughout the Olstan episode so that the unbelievable
statements it made can be compared to the scientific information available. Centennial has refused to provide these studies stating that their promises to release these studies are null and void now that they have withdrawn the Olstan project.
The community has a right, and an obligation to examine these studies to determine if Centennial’s statements have the same fatal flaws as its Olstan proposal. Unless the community can verify that these studies support Centennial’s statements then every Centennial statement and future project must be treated as spurious and opposed by the community. Unless this matter of credibility is cleared up, Centennial has poisoned the well for itself and other miners when it comes to trustworthiness.
I encourage you and your members to raise any questions about Centennials operations to Newstan 1800 247 662, Awaba 4959 3420 or through email ceyl@centennialcoal.com.au . Don’t forget to keep a record of your complaint for future reference.
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