And a public rally has been called for February 9 as the community mounts a similar campaign in relation to the exploration licences held by Gloucester Resources.

The ministerial meeting follows a unanimous resolution of council at the December meeting to push for the Minister not to renew the coal exploration licences.

While a public meeting in December resulted in a resident action group, Gloucester Residents In Partnership (GRIP) forming with the sole purpose of seeking that the coal exploration licences 6523, 6524 and 6563 are not renewed and /or are permanently removed so that no coal mining occurs in that area. The group will host the February 9 rally.

In a statement to the Gloucester Advocate on Monday Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said exploration renewals had been revoked in the past. He said, for example, if the Mining Act or conditions of the exploration licence have been breeched, or if a company has committed to undertake work or spend money and it hasn’t carried it out.

However, he said an exploration licence is not an approval to develop a mine. It is for exploration only.

“It’s important to realise that the actual site mined, if any, would be a fraction of the exploration area.

“An exploration licence cannot be extended or renewed for an area greater than that originally granted. However exploration licences can be renewed over the same area or for a reduced area,” he said.

Mr Macdonald said in a number of cases, the renewal area is reduced by 50 percent to close in on the target area and ensure large parcels of land are not tied up. This is a decision made by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

“Exploration licences are renewable dependent upon the licence holder complying with the exploration work program and conditions placed on the licence or satisfying the Department that there is a good and valid reason for not having complied.

“All proposals for mining are subject to a rigorous environmental assessment process by the Government.

“Mining has been part of the culture of this area since the mid 1800s.

“There have been exploration licences for coal since the early 1980s.

“Exploration is vital to the future of our state. It gives us an inventory to know precisely where our resources are located,” Minister Macdonald said.

The minister said mining and agriculture must co-exist with mining the lifeblood of many regional towns.

He said the average individual income is approximately $6,000 more in regional towns with mining than those without, according to a recent study by Charles Sturt University.

He said mining provides jobs to rural communities like Gloucester and helps keep people, especially young people at home. It helps delivers significant economic benefits to regional communities, which is essential when many towns are suffering financial hardship due to one of the worst droughts on record.

A report on the meeting with the minister will appear in next week’s Advocate.

GRIP said the group was not “anti-mining” or “anti-gas” as it sees mining does play a role in the community. However the group said it opposes the activities of Gloucester Resources due to their location and proximity to town.

GRIP will host the community rally on Monday February 9.

The rally will provide information on GRIP, explain the process of moving from coal exploration to coal production, include an update from Mayor Julie Lyford on council’s position as well as take comments from the floor.

GRIP has extended an invitation to Gloucester Resources managing director Brian Wingett to address the meeting to update the community on the company’s exploration program, production plans and land acquisitions.

Mr Wingett declined to comment to the Advocate on Monday saying that Gloucester Resources would comment “for ourselves as required to our community consultative committee” and would continue to provide regular updates to the community via advertising in the Gloucester Advocate.

The Gloucester Resources Community Consultative Committee is chaired by barrister Terrence Healey.

Petition against

exploration

In light of the widespread public concern that has arisen following recent announcements by Gloucester Resources, the Barrington-Gloucester-Stroud Preservation Alliance is launching a public petition calling for the revoking of the Coal Exploration Licences currently held by Gloucester Resources.

A delegation of Gloucester Shire Councillors met with Primary Industries Minister McDonald yesterday (Tuesday) to press for the licences to be revoked.

The Alliance considers that a public petition is the most effective way for the community to quickly demonstrate its strong support for Council. The petition will be launched at the Community Markets in Billabong Park at 11am this Saturday.

The Alliance invites the involvement of all community and business groups so that a strong and united message can be sent to Minister McDonald.