Say NO to coal mining in the Southwest

Coal is a combustible black or brownish black rock, it is primarily compaosed of carbon. Coal is a fossil fuel and the largest source of energy. Coal is extracted through mining and is either underground (shaft mining) or open pit mining. Both have major impacts on the surrounding environment.

Coal being the largest source of energy we do need it, and i'm not saying to stop mining coal all together, this post is in regards to the mining of coal in a very beautiful unspolit part of western australia, Margaret River.

The southwest already has a coal mine in Collie, which supplies coal for Australia, the coal that is to be extracted from Margaret river is being exported overseas. Now although there is no proof that this mine is going to go ahead as yet (still in planning), I feel as though we can all join together and stop it. I would hate to see a beautiful place be destroyed because of greed, money and power.

Margaret River is approximatly a 3 hour drive south of Perth and is surrounded by bushland, wineries and beaches. Margaret River is best known for it's wineries and surfing. It's the perfect weekend getaway for friends, families, groups and couples, with endless things to experience.

The proposed location of this coal mine is in Rosa Brook, a little community 15 minutes away from the centre of Margaret River. This is a close nit community and also farmland and vineyards, A source of income for families yet this doesn't seem to matter to corporate companies, they can just come in and take the land (where is the fairness in that?)

Margaret River is where I married my soul mate, it holds alot for me as it would for many other people who visit and live in the region. With Busselton, Yallingup and Augusta so close it is a great way to spend time away relaxing, enjoying everything the region has to offer, from whale watching to surfing, bushwalks and trips to the local wineries and breweries, and anything else you can think of.

There are also many events that occur within the region, Busselton has the Iron man, Southbound and many smaller community events, Leavers head to dunsborough and Margaret River to celebrate the end of school. The Margaret river pro and masters, (I love the mainbreak) Not that I surf it, to big for me.

It would be a shame to loose the beauty of this town.

I personnally believe that if this coal mine goes ahead it will have a negative impact on this small coastly region. For starters the area is home to a critically endangered frog species and not to mention the homes of many other animals. Other possible impacts:

• Can the health and safety of workers be Guaranteed, There are so many mine related incidents, some resulting in death.
• the farmer and their livestock, what will happen to them their families and income.
• The vineyards - grapes could end up tainted and this in turn will affect the wine industry for the region.
• the changes to the lives of those that live within the vacinity, the small community may have to change their lifestyles. Alot of people retire in this region.
• They say they will create new jobs - yes they will but there also specialists poistions and this i believe will affect the thousands of seasonal jobs the region offers for a few hundred jobs.
• the excess traffic, a small town doesn't need big dump trucks that will take up most of the road to be driving back and forth every 8 or so minutes.
• The tourism for the area will drop off, I don't know anyone that will visit a mining town for a relaxing holiday.

Margaret River is home to a variety of people and lifestyles, there are students, backpackers/travellors the elderly and those that already work within the community. The last thing this community needs is to be turned into a dirty mining town. It seems the coporate companies and CEO's don't acre about communities or the environment as long as their wallets are full, and lets not forget this coal isn't for Australia it is being exported and the money will not be remaining in australia, so i would really like to know how this coal mine would benefit the region. IT WON'T, it will be destroyed.

I did hear that it was going to be an underground mine to limit environmental impacts.... but I would like to know how? Just recently a underground coal mine in NEW Zealand exploded, miners are trapped some may be dead, (my dearest sympathies to those families). If this was to happen here...........well thats...I don't want to imagine.

So much for carbon neutral.....coal is carbon.

Please don't let this beautiful landscape be taken away from any of us, the visitirs and us that live here.

For more information please visit the no Coal-ition website: http://www.nocoalitionmargaretriver.com/