Comments on: NSW farmers skewered to sell coal to China http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/20/nsw-farmers-skewered-to-sell-coal-to-china/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:48:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ted O'Brien http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/20/nsw-farmers-skewered-to-sell-coal-to-china/#comment-12119 Ted O'Brien Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-12119 Why are people so short sighted as to think that it is the farmers who are getting shafted here? What about the consumers who benefit from the produce? Every Australian is getting shafted here. Why do they not understand this?<br /><br />This is some of the most productive agricultural land in Australia, thanks to magnificent soils and a good, relatively shallow underground aquifer which extends for probably hundreds of kilometres.<br /><br />Mining under that land will damage the surface, probably hugely reducing agricultural productivity forever . It will certainly pollute the aquifer and make the water in the aquifer unfit for irrigation. The aquifer will certainly be rendered unusable over a much bigger area than the area mined, perhaps in time over a hugely greater area. Forever. The damage will not be repairable.<br /><br />It is obscene that mining this land should even be considered, let alone promoted.<br /><br />These mines must not be allowed to proceed. Furthermore a very close watch should be kept on the effect that existing mines in the area may have on the aquifer. Should there be damage the mines should be closed.<br /><br /> Why are people so short sighted as to think that it is the farmers who are getting shafted here? What about the consumers who benefit from the produce? Every Australian is getting shafted here. Why do they not understand this?

This is some of the most productive agricultural land in Australia, thanks to magnificent soils and a good, relatively shallow underground aquifer which extends for probably hundreds of kilometres.

Mining under that land will damage the surface, probably hugely reducing agricultural productivity forever . It will certainly pollute the aquifer and make the water in the aquifer unfit for irrigation. The aquifer will certainly be rendered unusable over a much bigger area than the area mined, perhaps in time over a hugely greater area. Forever. The damage will not be repairable.

It is obscene that mining this land should even be considered, let alone promoted.

These mines must not be allowed to proceed. Furthermore a very close watch should be kept on the effect that existing mines in the area may have on the aquifer. Should there be damage the mines should be closed.

]]> By: Engineer http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/20/nsw-farmers-skewered-to-sell-coal-to-china/#comment-12120 Engineer Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-12120 And what about soil depletion? I know that mines "restore" their land, however I have read that it takes thousands of years to regenerate only milimetres of soil depth. Any project of this size will result in new land forms, residual voids with deep, cold and acidic water in them and the loss of many millions of tonnes of the most precious thing on earth - soil.<br /><br />Sure, we are becoming aware of global warming, light pollution, dust and air pollution and deforestation and habitat loss due to mining and coal usage.<br /><br />Where is the public outcry about soil loss? Without soil, there are no crops and no life. Essentially, once it is gone it is gone. End of game.<br /><br />I live and work in the Upper Hunter Valley, in a land of coal mines and power stations and these things are in evidence to me all day every day.<br /><br />Thank goodness that our skies aren't like Bejing's - yet. And what about soil depletion? I know that mines “restore” their land, however I have read that it takes thousands of years to regenerate only milimetres of soil depth. Any project of this size will result in new land forms, residual voids with deep, cold and acidic water in them and the loss of many millions of tonnes of the most precious thing on earth - soil.

Sure, we are becoming aware of global warming, light pollution, dust and air pollution and deforestation and habitat loss due to mining and coal usage.

Where is the public outcry about soil loss? Without soil, there are no crops and no life. Essentially, once it is gone it is gone. End of game.

I live and work in the Upper Hunter Valley, in a land of coal mines and power stations and these things are in evidence to me all day every day.

Thank goodness that our skies aren’t like Bejing’s - yet.

]]> By: Martin http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/20/nsw-farmers-skewered-to-sell-coal-to-china/#comment-12121 Martin Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-12121 This is not the only way that Macdonald has 'stabbed Primary Producers in the back'. His grab for the millions of dollars in asserts that the RLPB's (Rural Lands Protection Boards) in NSW hold and manage on behalf of Primary Producers. His systematic destruction of an organization that has served rural NSW for the over 100 years is just soooo typical of how the Iemma government does business in NSW.<br /><br />The RLPB is the FRONT LINE organization for animal health and biosecurity in NSW. What Macdonald has done, with the help of his minnows at State Council in Orange, is another typical disgrace to democracy that this government specializes in. <br /><br /> This is not the only way that Macdonald has ‘stabbed Primary Producers in the back’. His grab for the millions of dollars in asserts that the RLPB’s (Rural Lands Protection Boards) in NSW hold and manage on behalf of Primary Producers. His systematic destruction of an organization that has served rural NSW for the over 100 years is just soooo typical of how the Iemma government does business in NSW.

The RLPB is the FRONT LINE organization for animal health and biosecurity in NSW. What Macdonald has done, with the help of his minnows at State Council in Orange, is another typical disgrace to democracy that this government specializes in.

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