Nannas love to travel to various places to support local groups, visit politicians, and to see and learn about places threatened by mining or logging. Last week they travelled to Wollongong by train for a protest against coal expansion.
Sydney and Illawarra Nannas unite at Wollongong coal protest
A bunch of Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends caught the train to Wollongong on Friday 19 July for a protest outside the office of NSW Planning Minister, Paul Scully. Illawarra Nannas picked us up and we joined the lively gathering at the Minister’s office.
The point of the rally, organised by Lock the Gate, was to call on the Minister to do everything in his power to stop the two massive coal mines soon to move through the planning system.
The mines are Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) and Moolarben mine expansion. HVO is the biggest coal project ever proposed in NSW. The Moolarben expansion is near Mudgee and if approved will clear over 600 hectares of native vegetation, threatening koalas, Regent Honeyeaters and other endangered species. These two coal mines are just the first of 19 the coal industry has lodged in the planning system.
How can this be in a global climate emergency in a state with legislated emissions reduction targets of 50% reduction by 2030 and 70% reduction by 2035?
Tragically the coal mining policies of the Minns government are the pro-coal policies of the previous LNP government. While there is a promise to review this situation the two coal mines could be approved before any changes are made.
The rally called on the Minister not to order the IPC to hold a public hearing, but to hold a public meeting instead. The difference is that a public hearing takes away the community’s right to lodge merit appeals.
The MC of the Wollongong rally was a giant koala called Angela, and speakers included Kay Osborne of Protect our Water Alliance and Nic Clyde, NSW Co-ordinator of Lock the Gate Alliance.
For details about the above mines and their potential impact please see:
Hunter Valley Operations and Moolarben Coal information by Lock the Gate
Meeting with Jihad Dib
Nannas Trish and Heather met with the member for Bankstown Jihad Dib, Minister for Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Emergency Services, and Youth Justice, and his assistant Anu on July 12 at his Punchbowl electoral office.
Climate Emergency – The Minister acknowledged that climate change is the cause of many of the emergencies he deals with. Earlier he had been at Richmond to the handover of 20 emergency helicopters. Climate change has led to a cross-over of the fire seasons in northern and southern hemispheres. We can no longer rely on helicopters from the northern hemisphere being here for our extended fire season.
Fossil Fuels – The Minister said investment in the coal industry will reduce inevitably as the shift to renewables occurs – therefore the priority is the need to strengthen renewables rather than intervening in coal and gas production. He believes in government subsidies for batteries as they are a major cost. He regards gas as a ‘firming’ tool only (i.e. gas-fired power plants in Australia with very low demand for gas). At the same time he agreed that most of the existing and proposed gas developments produce gas for export.
Hydrogen – The Minister supports the development of green hydrogen but recognises that currently there is not enough renewable energy available to develop it at scale. The production and export of green hydrogen is the government’s goal.
Protest Laws – The Minister endorses safe, non-violent protests that do not threaten harm to others. His family is involved in protests about what is happening in Gaza. However he is opposed to protests that could block emergency vehicles crossing the harbour bridge and anything that could cause harm to others.
Macquarie Marshes
Nannas were shocked to read that a Canadian-owned mining company has been granted exploration approval for copper and gold upstream of the Ramsar-listed Macquarie Marshes in North West NSW.
The NSW Resources Regulator has since instructed the company to cease exploration activities and has started investigating the proposal. A desktop audit approved the exploration in an area adjacent to a Nature Reserve without on site investigations which are only now being done. The stop work order could be revoked at any time.
Many of us visited the Macquarie Marshes during our Listening Tour of north west NSW in May 2021. It was after the drought had broken and, as we walked over the water on a boardwalk, we could see lots of bird and insect life. It is an important breeding area for wetland birds, home to a number of threatened and vulnerable species, and an important part of the hydrological system that is the Murray Darling Basin.
After our visit we vowed to protect the Macquarie Marshes. Letters/emails have been sent to NSW Natural Resources Minister Courtney Houssos expressing our concerns.
References:
Ramsar listed Macquarie Marshes under threat from mining Nature Conservation Council
Concerns for Macquarie Marshes as miner Australian Consolidated Gold Holdings wins drilling approval ABC News
NSW Country Hour – ABC – interview with local landowner Garry Hall 20 minutes in.
Friday 26 July – Nanna face to face meeting
If you are thinking about joining the Nannas we have singing practice and a meeting at Customs House, Level 2 Meeting Room, 31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay from 10am to 1pm. All welcome. This is an opportunity to have some fun singing and to meet up with us in person. Contact us for more information.
Forthcoming Events