Opinion piece
BICKHAM Coal Company has invested $10 million since 2002 to create an open-cut mine near Murrurundi in the Upper Hunter, on a site that is recognised for its open-cut mining potential by the NSW Government. Much of this money has been spent following government-prescribed processes.
The site is near some local waterways, which is why we have engaged some of Australia's most reputable water experts to tell us about any effects that might be expected.
Those experts have consistently told us over many years that the effects will be negligible, minuscule, irrelevant.
The long-standing reputations of these experts demand that they call things as they see them. Given our investment so far, you can be assured we would have folded up our chairs and moved on a long time ago if the experts' advice was otherwise.
You would struggle to find a mining water study anywhere in Australia that is as comprehensive as ours, or one that has been scrutinised as heavily.
The water study has been updated and peer-reviewed and is now scheduled to be reviewed again by an independent panel of interstate water experts appointed by the NSW Government.
We have also reduced the proposed mine size by 25 per cent and shifted the footprint in an effort to put the matter of water effects beyond doubt.
Regarding comments by the founder of Arrowfield Stud, John Messara ("Million-dollar industry will die for cheap coal", Herald, 4/11), about the mine extracting 2 million litres of groundwater a day at its peak, this is groundwater that will flow into the mine from the hard-rock coal measures as the mine extends below the water table.
This groundwater is not currently used by anybody so the mine will not affect anybody's water supply. No water from the Pages River or Kingdon Ponds will flow into the mine during or after its operation.
It is misleading to say that the Pages River will take 105 years to "return to normal" without examining this in context.
Small quantities of groundwater currently seep into the Pages River from coal measures on the proposed mine site, causing the stream flow near the site to increase slightly. The small flow increases cannot be detected visually and can only be measured by careful monitoring.
As the mine develops, some of these seeps will ease, resulting in slightly smaller flow increases for a period during and after completion of mining.
But there will at all times during and after mining be a continuing increase in stream flow as the Pages River flows past the site. The facts show that these are minuscule effects that can only be detected with sensitive water-flow testing equipment.
Mr Messara said the exhibition of the water study is "one of the final steps in determining if the mine will get the go-ahead". After considering the advice of the independent panel, the Department of Planning will decide if the project should be accepted for full, comprehensive assessment under the State Government's major project legislation.
In the interim, Bickham is, of its own volition, participating in a series of community information sessions to explain the facts in person. Bickham did not see it as necessary to launch a series of costly prime-time metro TV commercials that inject drama but bypass the facts: we are quite happy to front our supporters and critics face to face to be sure people are getting the facts.
Mr Messara downplays the economic benefits of the mine and isn't clear on how many jobs are on offer.
Both Bickham and the Government agree that the mine would create 300 jobs (100 direct, 200 indirect) and $20 million in local revenue every year for the 25-year mine life. Those jobs will bring enormous benefits to Murrurundi, Blandford, Wingen and Scone.
Bickham accepts that some prominent community members always have and always will take the lead against what we are trying to do.
However, we naturally insist on being subjected to fair scrutiny as part of a proper planning process, just like any other project offering significant economic opportunities to the state.
We are hopeful that our project will be assessed on its overall merits off the back of an impartial and independent assessment by interstate experts.
The Upper Hunter shouldn't be considered as anyone's private playground. It's there for industry, employment, living and lifestyle purposes. If the facts show that new opportunities can co-exist with existing ones, it's imperative that the facts are fully explored so those opportunities and the communities that depend on them have a chance to prosper.
John Richards is the director of the Bickham Coal Company.
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