Logan and Albert Conservation Association
GASLANDS movie is coming to Beaudesert
Sunday 10 April 3pm
Venue is : St Mary's Centacare Community Centre (old leagues club)
Petersen Street Beaudesert
same as forum HEALTH HAZARDS OF COAL and CSG INDUSTRY
The forum was a huge success - especially to have confirmed by Richard Adams SRRC councillor that the local council is
opposed to the coal industry activities in the SCENIC RIM - lets KEEP THE SCENIC RIM SCENIC
Watch this space and and also eco news from Sunshine Coast Environment Council at www.econews.org.au free newspaper.
Copies of this free eco news will be available across the Scenic Rim and southern areas of Logan eg Jimboomba. Distribution points are being established now.
Carabella Resources Limited’s (www.carabellaresources.com.au/Projects/BarneyViewAndMaroon ) plans to commence coal exploration in the scenic Mt Barney valley at Barney View in 2011 have been exposed this week. Local residents and council were caught completely unaware of the impending plans of this profit-driven shareholder company, who’s ultimate aim is to exploit the finite natural resources of The Scenic Rim.
The planned coal exploration and coal mine is adjacent to World Heritage-listed Mt Barney National Park, and is a designated “National Landscape” and is called “Australia’s Green Cauldron” (this is a Parks Australia and Tourism Australia project ) http://www.australia.com/campaigns/nationallandscapes/AustraliasGreenCauldron.htm
Innes Larkin, owner/operator of Mt Barney Lodge said “Carabella Resources Ltd is planning to explore and potentially mine coal in a region of national significance, it has been listed as the third most biodiverse region in Australia. We intend on sending a clear message to the State Government to protect our shared environmental assets and halt coal exploration immediately”.
Dr. Paul Epstein from the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard’s Medical School has written an article quantifying the true costs of coal in terms of economic, health and environmental impacts. Dr. Epstein’s study details how each stage of coal’s life cycle (extraction, transportation, processing, and combustion) has enormous costs, all of which are directly borne by the public. Notably, the report estimates some $74.6 billion a year in public health costs for Appalachian communities, mainly from increasing healthcare burdens, injury and death.
Beyond the direct health damage coal extraction and burning has on communities, the American public is paying $187.5 billion due to air pollutants, $29.3 billion for mercury poisoning, and anywhere between $61.7 and $205.8 billion for global warming emissions. Although this is an American study we in Australia - and South East Queensland will be bearing similar impacts. Read more about this story or an executive summary here.http://wvgazette.com/static/coal%20tattoo/HarvardCoalReportSummary.pdf
This is timely research as our Queensland Government approves more mining exploration amidst the World Heritage listed Mt Barney. All over South East Queensland mining companies are wanting to extend the exploitation of our areas most valued for the richness of biodiversity. During the 2011 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS for people which seeks to have members of the human species become more aware of our connections with healthy forest systems. Healthy forests equals a healthy life sustaining enviroment for healthy people.
Beyond dollar evaluations, qualitative impacts include harm to air quality,watersheds, land, plants, animals, families and communities. The proposed technology of CCS is costly and risky, and is projected to magnify the ecological and health footprint of coal. The extent of environmental harm is such that instead of more coal mines we should be phasing fossil fuel production out and bringing in renewable non degrading processes - especially where we can apply closed loop cycles - as does nature.
Concerned Residents Meeting
regarding
Coal Exploration and Mining at Barney View
Beaudesert Times journalist Gary Corbett broke the news on Wednesday last week, that Coal Mining is headed to the Mt Barney region. Carabella Resources Limited is cashed up and they already have State Government Mining Licences to allow Coal exploration within the next few months at Barney View, Maroon, and the western Boonah-Rathdowney Road corridor. If this proves to be worthwhile, mining is the next step.
Information about Mt Barney and Maroon is provided here.
This is of great concern to the environment, farming, tourism, local businesses, reisdents who value the rural charm and values of their chosen lifestyle, and those who live near road corridors. A preliminerary community meeting will be held at Mt Barney Lodge (15 minutes from Rathdowney) which is at the southern end of the investigation area. It will be held at 2pm on Friday 18th February.
The purpose of the meeting is:
All are welcome to attend, and RSVP's or further enquiries should contact info@mtbarneylodge .com.au or 5544 3233.
World Heritage listed Mount Barney National Park values are threatened by incompatible continued mining of fossil fuel. Many local businesses supported Queensland's Carbon Diet to reduce our greenhouse gas output. Granting of such licences is beyond belief with our current knowledge and understanding of the global state ot the environment.