statement from mp dorothy pratt, page-5

Courier Mail..July 28...Sophie Elsworth [abb]

Outraged Kingaroy residents attended a meeting last
night to discuss plans by another mining "giant" to
conduct coal gasification testing in the region.

Western Australian company Red River Resources holds
an exploration permit in parts of the South Burnett
township,which has enraged locals.

Small business owner [second hand store] Brian Labudda
has lived in the town his whole life and thought the
coal gasification was "dead and buried" until learning
that another company was planning to test near the town.

"Kingaroy has been referred to as the toxic town,so its
going to start affecting businesses and the resale of
property",Mr Labudda said.

"Who's going to want to come to Kingaroy?"

Cougar Energy's UCG project near the town,225Km NW of
Brisbane,was shut down after traces of cancer-causing
chemicals benzene and toluene were discovered in bores
close to the plant earlier this month.

But Red River Resources managing director John Karajas
said he was "GOBSMACKED" by the reactions of Kingaroy
residents.

"If the people around Kingaroy are really that concerned
about it,it would be up to the Queensland Government to
say we can't proceed with it," he said from Perth yes-
terday. "And you just say 'stiff....' and go off and
find a new project."

While he said he felt "sympathy" for Kingaroy residents,
he said his company did not intend to POLLUTE THE AREA.

On May 27 this year,Red River Resources chose Kingaroy
[note the date you guys:)as a possible site for testing,
but it is yet to be approved by shareholders and the Gov.

The company did not have a representative at the meeting
last night.

Resident Harold Adlem, 80,who has been a dairy farmer
at Kingaroy for decades said he was "deeply concerned".

"There seems to be an attitude not to worry about farming
and we are worried about the pollution mainly.The problem
with these people is they'll move in and say "we can put
it all back when we're finished with it",but we'll be
dead and gone."

Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Action Group spokesman Gary
Tessman told last nights meeting: "WE'RE NOT AGAINST
MINING,WE WANT THIS TO BE A SAFE PRACTICE".

Since the contamination leak was made public,the Gov has
called for a review of the industry and the testing of
two pilot plants at Chinchilla and Kogan.

____________________________________________

Much of the "ANGER" within Kingaroy residents and other
parts of Queensland is the falling prices that farmers
are receiving for some of products.For example,dairy
farmers are receiving payments for their milk,which are
below the cost of production,..on and on.

People such as Mrs Pratt and David Carter are "feeding"
on the inherent fear of farmers,who may not have enough
money to live on if Agriculture takes a dive in the
district.

Pratt and Carter are victims of their own massive egos
in overdrive,who,if they continue as they are,will soon
have more than 'egg' on their faces IMO.

Finally..

The Courier Mail is taking less of a stand against Cougar
with every new edition and watch politicians do the same,
for they cannot continue with this stage show forever.

HM.