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A crowd of 250 people
waved banners and chanted “water not coal” amid the call for South
Korean mining giant Kores to pack up their bags and leave the
Central Coast.
Mr O’Farrell said that an elected Liberal Government would not allow
coal mining in Wyong water catchment valleys.
“We must learn by our mistakes of the 1990’s and put people and
water first,” Mr O’Farrell said.
Mr O’Farrell congratulated the community for standing up and
fighting to protect their basic rights - to ensure the Central
Coast’s water supply.
Liberal state member for Terrigal Chris Hartcher told a boisterous
crowd that it was significant that BHP had walked away from the
proposal.
“A Korean company was willing to step in and take the coal out of
the country and make huge profits,” Mr Hartcher said.
Australian Coal Alliance (ACA) spokesman Alan Hayes said “water is
our most precious resource and we cannot allow it to be destroyed
because of greed.”
Mr Hayes described the Chikarovski Report as “codswallop” and urged
people to write letters of protest to Planning Minister Ms Keneally.
In an email received by Alan Hayes from Barry O’Farrell after the
rally, Mr O’Farrell said “I especially appreciate the opportunity to
reiterate the Liberal Party’s opposition to the coal mining
proposal and our determination, in office, to prevent it from going
ahead. Of course, we will do whatever we can between now and the
election to try and get Mr Rees and Ms Keneally to stop the mine.”
Wyong State Labor MP David Harris congratulated Mr O’Farrell on his
stance in opposing the coal mine.
“We have a lot of support in government but we’re not over the line
yet,” Mr Harris said.
“We can’t continue to let mining companies rape our communities.”
After the rally Mr Harris confirmed that he had spoken with the
Premier’s senior advisors and was very optimistic that something
positive would now happen to stop the mine.
Coal Alliance spokesman Alan Hayes said that the rally was a huge
success and that he has received a number of congratulation emails,
including one from Chris Hartcher.
“It was significant that the rally was held at the Woodbury Park
reserve,” Mr Hayes said.
“It’s where the two valley river systems meets and where the water
is pumped from into Mardi Dam to service the urban communities.” |
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