Community consultation concern over the Mudgee mine
A group of locals in Mudgee held a silent vigil today to show their concern about the new coal mine proposed for the area. The Moolarben Coal Project, the biggest new coal mine proposed in New South Wales, could threaten groundwater resources in the area. Over the past two days an independent hearing and assessment panel of three experts have been addressing community concerns. The panel, made up water, subsidence and noise experts was appointed before the public submissions were received. This means that community concerns over dust pollution, traffic, global warming and the proposed secret power station will not be adequately addressed. Locals at the hearing, Bev Smiles Chairperson of the Mudgee District Environment Group and grazier Malcolm Swords, say it is more an exercise in bureaucracy than community consultation.