This is a post costructed by a fellow poster about where the...

This is a post costructed by a fellow poster about where the Coldry plant is based and where the coal for our Matmor Tech will come from.

Hi All

Won't bore you with attaching all the detail below, but the salient points from public doco extracts are:

1990 - Administrative Appeals Tribunal, found in relation to Oupan Resources wanting to develop residental housing around existing Maddingley Mine:

"The result of this planning review was that the coal reserve had to be protected for future development and was classified as a strategic reserve for the benefit of Victoria".

1999 - Again, same deal trying to build residental development, a Panel declared:

1. The panel recognised the Special Use Zone as reserved for future mining
2. The potential of the land based on its natural resources outweighs any other potential use the land may have at this time.
3. The extent of this potential is likely to become evident within the next 10 to 15 years
4. The land is not inherently suitable for residential purposes
5. There is other land available which is more attractive for residential development
6. Bacchus Marsh enjoys a combination of assets and advantages that create a potential for it to become a centre for research and development activity and for large new innovative industries.
7. The Council should develop strategies to capitalise on these assets and advantages and develop this potential.

The Panel’s Summary of Implications for the Future
Under point 6 above, “Bacchus March enjoys a combination of assets and advantage” the Panel, in their summation, specified the following points:-

1. The brown coal reserve
2. A company with strong connections and backing (Calleja/Maddingley Technology) engaged in R&D associated with that resource
3. The potential for major industries to establish in close proximity to the resource
4. Other R&D activities proposed in the area (aviation based industries at or near to the Bacchus March Aerodrome
5. A large variety of serviced industrial land in relatively close proximity, south of the River, and well separated form residential development.
6. Existing waste disposal and recycling facilities at the open cut mine
7. Excellent freeway access to the west (Ballarat and Adelaide) and to the east Melbourne
8. Easy access to the Western Ring Road, airports at Tullarmarine and Avalon, and ports at Melbourne and Geelong.
9. Access to a large potential workforce.
10. Attractive living environments
11. Access to good education and recreational facilities.

2006 - The Minister for Energy Industries and Resources, Theo Theophanous said:

“Importantly this valuable coal resource will also be protected for the future, ensuring that Maddingley continues to be a location for research and development into clean coal technologies”.

2011 - A spokesman for the Baillieu government said:

...it was sympathetic to landowners who did not want to give up their properties for mining operations, but not at the expense of the state's economic interests. ''We encourage companies to seek out resources that are available in Victoria, and as long as they follow all due legal and regulatory processes then the government wants to encourage mining in Victoria".

The debate over the brown coal deposit has been ongoing for the past 20 years and in each instance, State Government has always been supportive and granted in favour of reserving the resource for the future benefit of Victoria.

Additionally, they want to encourage any development that can produce clean energy from this resource.

Giddyup folks