Opinion: Dr Anne Poelina on the proposed coal mineAnne Poelina...

Opinion: Dr Anne Poelina on the proposed coal mine
Anne Poelina at James Price Point

Anne Poelina at James Price Point

Dr Anne Poelina is vigorously opposed to the planned coal mine at Liveringga Station.

She said more scientific investigation is needed to prove the venture is environmentally safe, and it would not have been approved if it was near the southern wine-growing and tourist district of Margaret River.

You can read her statement here:

Dr Anne Poelina

Nyikina Traditional Owner, Academic and Kimberley Resident

Tuesday, 28 June 2011

MEDIA STATEMENT ? for release June 28

Beautiful Kimberley river threatened by mining

Traditional Owners speak out to stop new coal mining province in the Kimberley.

Nyikina Traditional Owners are concerned that the Mining Application from Rey Resources to extract thermal coal from the Mardoowarra-Fitzroy River floodplains will not have to meet the same standards as other areas such as the Margaret River.

An independent study from Professor Peter Cook from the University of Western Australia has identified many risks that need further deep scientific investigation in order to demonstrate the mine would not have a significant environmental impact on the pristine tropical river catchment.

Louise Stelfox from the WA Department of Water has recently conducted geothermic image research which demonstrates the location of the proposed mine has been exposed to high levels of tectonic compression and therefore the sub-coal geology would be fractured, allowing toxic sludge waste that is planned to be stored underground to leach into the river system.

Dr Anne Poelina a Nyikina Traditional Owner said ?This dirty low grade coal mine proposed by Rey Resources provides so many ways to destroy our Mardoowarra, living water. The government should treat us the same as the people down in Margret River and place a moratorium on this development until they can prove it is absolute safety ?.

Traditional Owners are being pressured into supporting mining without being fully informed of the potential risk scenarios. The fact that Traditional Owners cannot veto a mine on their country effectively means they are being coerced into making an agreement, even when the science demonstrates it will destroy their land, water, plants and animals.

There is growing concern throughout the region as people in Derby are only now starting to realise the huge impost on them, their town and the environment. When residents were told about the 60-80 3x trailer road-trains that would be up and down the main street 7 days a week, they shook their heads and said ?that ain?t going to happen?

?We have a beautiful river, it is priceless? says Dr Poelina. ?Rey Resources it trying to put a perception out there that this is a safe coal mine, the fact is it is dangerous to the river and it will open the flood gates for a whole new dirty coal mining province at a time when the biggest argument in Canberra is about reducing carbon pollution.

http://www.kimberleypage.com.au/2011/06/opinion-dr-anne-poelina-on-the-proposed-coal-mine/#more-20260