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Pick the letter(s) you want to send. Copy and paste these to your word processor. Add your address, print them out, sign them and send them off. Send a copy of replies to the Colong Foundation, 2/332 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000.
(send a copy to the Premier as well, address below)
(your address)
The Hon. Carmel Tebbutt MP
Minister for the Environment and Climate Change
Level 30, Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Dear Minister Tebbutt,
The Gardens of Stone Stage Two Reserve proposal
The 46,000 hectare Gardens of Stone Stage Two reserve proposal would greatly enhance the conservation of a stunning landscape, which contains unique botanical, recreational and scenic assets that are not part of the existing Blue Mountains reserve system. These include the best examples of 'pagoda' rock pinnacles created by ironstone bands etched from the Burramoko sandstone that outcrops only in the western Blue Mountains; the highest density of rare plants in the Mountains; and outstanding examples of nationally endangered upland swamps.
The reserve proposal contains no commercial natural resources not found elsewhere, and the state conservation reserve areas of the proposal are configured to allow continued mining of coal within existing mining interests. The development threats to its real value, its scenery and biodiversity, can only be effectively addressed through reservation action. A state conservation area reservation over existing coal leases will facilitate more sustainable outcomes where the environmental values of this outstanding area are protected and managed.
I also ask that you take the steps necessary to ensure that the Public Land Rationalisation Scheme is implemented so that all 4000 hectares of suitable land are added to the Blue Mountains National Park, as originally planned. These lands are part of the Western Escarpment Biodiversity Corridor. Furthermore, splitting the management between two local councils of areas including the nationally significant heritage at Mount York, which has the first passes into the interior, is inappropriate. This area merits better recognition and effective, consistent management.
Yours sincerely
cc: The Hon. Nathan Rees MP
Premier of NSW
Level 40
Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Minister for Primary Industries
(your address)
The Hon Ian Macdonald MP
Minister for Primary Industries
Level 33, Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Dear Minister Macdonald,
Gardens of Stone and Coal Mining
As you would be aware, the Gardens of Stone Stage Two reserve proposal does not oppose coal mining but seeks reservation and better management of lands over Newnes Plateau, the Great Dividing Range and the Airly-Genowlan mesa.
I support your Department of Primary Industries efforts to work with the Department of Environment and Climate Change and Centennial Coal to develop a management strategy over part of this important area. Please support protection zones for streams, swamps, cliffs, pagoda formations and cultural heritage, such as Aboriginal art sites and oil shale ruins.
Given the outstanding qualities of the area, I believe the area's cultural, natural and cultural heritage deserve effective management. Public access for motor vehicles to the tops of the Genowlan and Airly mesas would be detrimental to these sensitive environments.
Yours sincerely
(your address)
The Mayor
Lithgow City Council
PO Box 19
LITHGOW NSW 2790
Dear Sir,
The effects of cliff destruction and loss of wetlands arising from poorly regulated coal mining will be with us for thousands of years. A legacy of broken cliff lines, polluted rivers and degraded swamps would hinder Lithgow becoming a centre for tourism. I ask you to support moves to better protect the environment from the damaging effects of coal mining. The World Heritage area so close to a big city is drawing tourism to Lithgow as seen with the Emirates development. Please support protection zones for streams, cliffs, pagoda formations and cultural heritage, such as Aboriginal art sites and oil shale ruins.
About two thirds of the proposal is covered with mining leases
Yours sincerely
(your address)
The Hon
Kristina Keneally
MP
Minister for Planning
Level 35, Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Dear Minister Keneally,
Don't turn Newnes Plateau into a Sydney's sandpit
The protection of the Gardens of Stone Area, centred on Newnes Plateau has for many years been recognised as a high conservation value area, with spectacular scenery and rich botanical values. The proposal to develop the Newnes Plateau as a strategic sand resource must be rejected.
The Newnes Plateau is situated on the watershed of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and the headwaters of Sydney's water supply. It would have to be one of the least suitable places for a sand mining district. It would impose a visually intrusive, polluting, noisy, dusty blight on the most botanically diverse area in the Blue Mountains.
We urge you to support the Gardens of Stone - Stage Two reserve proposal, which would permit effectively regulated underground coal mining operations, but should prevent further sand mining on the surface, which results in the wholesale removal of the natural environment.
Yours sincerely
(your address)
Mr Peter Garrett MP
Minister for the Environment,
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Dear Minister Garrett,
Clarence Colliery Mine extension: State environmental laws should be enforced.
Centennial Coal, which owns the Clarence Colliery near Lithgow, has for decades discharged 15ML of polluted water each day into the otherwise pristine Wollangambe River that flows into the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
The river is a major recreational resource used by many wilderness tour companies to introduce Blue Mountains visitors to the sport of canyoning. Many thousands visit the Wollangambe's canyons each year.
According to Centennial Coal, NSW Environment Protection Agency, Department of Land and Water Conservation and Lithgow City Council and even the company itself consider the current pollution of the Wollangambe River is unacceptable. Yet the pollution continues.
Centennial Coal has not adequately addressed the unacceptable pollution when the mine was expanded. The proposal stated 'it must be stressed that the proposed new water management system is not part of this EIS proposal'. 'In terms of the existing proposal, there will be no changes made to the existing management system and therefore the impact on water quality in the region will be neutral' (page 4-7 of the EIS).
That 'neutrality' encompasses continued unacceptable pollution of the Wollangambe River by the Clarence Colliery. Back in March 1999, a Centennial Coal report stated 'If the current system is allowed to continue indefinitely, the discharge of such water into the Wollamgambe would be considered a breech of the (former) Clean Water Act 1970, rendering the mine liable to prosecution. It is therefore evident that this is not an option that is acceptable to Centennial, DLWC, Council, or the EPA.'
As a World Heritage area is being affected. The Commonwealth approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 for extending the mine must surely be contingent upon Centennial Coal's compliance with State pollution laws. What steps will you take to ensure that Centennial Coal makes good their own commitments to stop the pollution discharge to the World Heritage Area?
Yours sincerely
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To comment on these letters, email: foundation@colongwilderness.org.au
Last updated Monday 17-Mar-2008