Have your say! To mine or not to mine
It is never difficult for Christian politicians who have indicated their firm stance on issues to decide moral issues. But many issues are not so obvious. On one hand the Government supports any new development or economic benefit to the state. On the other hand the Greens oppose any new development or economic benefit to the State. Christians are to be found supporting arguments on both sides. Rev Fred Nile’s approach is usually to support the decision of the Government elected to govern because the CDP has no policy on such individual matters.
If we had a policy, what do you think? Take for example to Government’s approving a controversial new $240 million Anvil Hill coal mine in the Hunter Valley region.
The mine will provide 250 construction and 240 other jobs. It will sell coal to China which will only buy from Queensland or Brazil if not from us. The coal is worth round $9 billion. Anvil Hill will produce more greenhouse pollution every year than all the vehicles on NSW roads. Another 22 mines await approval. Coal mines may not be allowed within twenty years so we should mine now.
Against the mine is the argument that it leaves the government’s climate change credentials in tatters. It is estimated the new mine will produce 529 million tonnes of carbon dioxide which it impact the environment, change our climate and sea levels. The mine will use megalitres of drinking water each month. Plans for Carbon capture and storage are unproven and untested, and unlikely to be up and running in the lifetime of Anvil Hill. The money could be spent on development of renewable energy initiatives and moving the Hunter away from a coal future to a clean, renewable energy future.
A vote in the area would not help. Upper Hunter residents have a mixed reaction to the New South Wales Government’s decision to approve the controversial Anvil Hill coal mine. The community remains divided over the impact of the new mine. “Disappointed. I’m not against mines, but just against too many mines. It’ll be a total mining community now. No, I don’t like it at all”, said one resident.
The Hunter’s thoroughbred horse breeders are also disappointed, after recently calling for a moratorium on new coal mines. The vineyards and tourist industry are opposed but a Centennial Coal spokeswoman, Katie Brassil, welcomed the decision, saying the company was confident the mine’s environmental assessment as adequate.
So, what do you think? I would appreciate your opinion by email this week. I want to vote according to the wishes of the CDP. I think most CDP members are become more conscious of the need for Christians to be more environmentally aware on issues like water and carbon. If you are happy to leave it to the usual “Father knows best” method, I will vote according to my own estimate of the values involved.
Rev The Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes. A.C.,M.L.C.