New EPA rules open small window of opportunity in Margaret River coal mine fight

Submitted by Kirsty Lawson on Thu, 02/12/2010 - 13:55

Media Release:  December 2, 2010

WA Greens MPs have called on Western Australians to support residents and business owners in the Margaret River region by going to the EPA website and making their views known about the proposed coal mine. The new EPA rules will, for the first time, give the public seven days to comment on submissions about levels of assessment.

“People have until midnight on Wednesday December 8th to tell the EPA about how the mine could impact their businesses, local environment and quality of life,” Giz Watson, Greens WA Spokesperson for the South West Region said today.

In October, South-West landowners put in a submission to the EPA using Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act, hoping to get a PUEA (project unlikely to be environmentally acceptable) decision. This has now been replaced by API category B.

“These new rules allow the EPA to make assessments outside ministerial recommendations and I can’t stress how important this is. I’m hoping there are an influx of public comments and that the EPA and Barnett government acknowledge them and act on them,” said Ms Watson.

The Greens say they are also gathering other legislative, scientific and environmental evidence in response to LD Operation’s decision to seek approval for the Vasse Coal project.

“We don’t want people in Margaret River to lose heart. This is not inevitable. This year the thoroughbred industry in NSW succeeded in stopping the Bickham Coal mine and we are all working together to look at ways this can happen in WA,” added Ms Watson.

In May, NSW Premier Kristina Keneally acted on recommendations from the Planning Assessment Commission and blocked the coal mine  to protect the mutli-billion dollar thoroughbred industry and because it threatened to contaminate water and posed drainage risks to the Pages River.  In Western Australia, a mining lease needs environmental approval only, whereas in NSW it also needs planning approval.

“Water is also a critical element in this. Not only will this mine use huge volumes of water for processing and dust control, there is a real risk it could drain the Margaret River by exhausting the Leederville aquifer. Concerns about Pages River drainage was one of the reasons the Bickham Coal project was blocked.

“We have a 7 day window to make our voices heard. After that, the fate of this unique area will be in the hands of a government that seems intent on pushing through mining and energy projects at all costs, as we’re seeing in the Kimberley,” concluded Ms Watson. 

To make a comment, please visit the EPA website at http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/EIA/referralofProp-schemes/pages/referral.aspx?lid=15

For media enquiries, please contact Alison Xamon on 0437 700 555 or Kirsty Lawson on 0428 207 007