06/07/2017
Dr Anthony Lynham please take a moment to read this letter of support penned by Friend of New Acland Lesley:
Dear Minister,
I am signing this petition because I am 70 years old, and I am sick and tired of seeing completely fabricated lies spread by so-called Green-supporters about coal and coal mining.
I, like most people outside the resources industry, know very little about coal.
What I do know is that coal is utilised to create electricity.
I know that coal is utilised to make steel that the human race heavily relies on within the construction, technology, science, engineering, and automotive industries to name but a few.
I know that coal sales to overseas consumers provides not only much needed heating and power solutions , but also promotes International Trade, that in turn generate royalties, both of which benefit Australian state and federal governments.
I also know that so-called alternative options, such as wind-farms, solar-farms, water-energy generation farms, do not and can not adequately supply electricity to communities without exorbitant costs, in some instances much higher than acceptable noise limits, and without the construction of the relevant items such as pipes, beams, posts, vehicles, all of which are made using coal.
I also know that, having been to a New Hope Group Open Day, one of the regular public days, where members of the community are invited to visit the mine, encouraged to see, to touch, to smell, and to ask questions about the mine and their mining practices, I can attest that New Hope Group strives to be of the community.
Having lived in the Ipswich area my entire life, I watched mines like Box Flat commence and complete operations. I have seen both underground and open cut mines in the Ipswich area.
And I can honestly say that New Hope Group is outstanding in their rehabilitation practices. Comparatively to mines when I was younger, I was astonished to drive past New Hope Group's New Oakleigh mine recently, shocked to see almost no evidence of any mining activity whatsoever since operations ceased.
I know that a lot of my family and friends growing up, earned their living working for Queensland Rail, transporting coal along the rail corridor when the barges ceased deliveries along the Bremer River.
I know that the Ipswich and Darling Downs areas have a rich history of generations working for Queensland Rail, and now Aurizon, all transporting coal over years and years. And I know that not once has Ipswich shied away from this history. Because Ipswich and Darling Downs areas are proud to have generated their fair share for their state.
What I don't know, is why the New Acland Mine expansion application, and what seems to be New Hope Group in particular, appears to be the direct target of the State Government to make some sort of uneducated point to the general public, to satisfy a few loudly spoken political Greens.
What I don't know is why the state government would publicly back the Adani coal mine project, why the Premier would repeatedly advocate "Jobs Jobs Jobs for Queensland", and why, with the announcement just this week that the measly Queensland budget surplus for the 2016-17 year was propped up in part by a $1.8billion revenue generated by coal royalties, some of which came from the New Acland Mine, why there would be any questions as to the importance of this mine continuing.
What I don't know is why, with so many other mines closing their doors over the past few years, and so many Queensland residents suffering as a result of significant job losses, why this mine, who has historically operated as part of the community not against it, would even be considered the enemy.
I can only assume that this targeting is to secure votes and potential seats during the next election. I can assure you, Minister, that rejecting the application for this mine to expand will not result in my vote in the next election. I would much rather see my vote go to a representative that will actually listen to what the community has to say, and from what I can see and hear, the direct communities of Oakey, and nearby Toowoomba, shout loudly that New Acland is not the enemy here.
What worries me the most, Minster, is that having been a Labour supporter all my life, having marched for the rights of my fellow workers, and having fought alongside unions for Labour votes, the latest decision by the member, and worryingly, my fears that your upcoming decision will reflect that of the member also, will leave me no choice but to change my voting preferences to that of the "other" major political party within Australia in the upcoming state election.
Unfortunately for you, Minister, my fears about my community, about the security of local jobs, and the welfare of people and families that surround me, far outweighs the very uneducated groups trying to stop this project.
My hope is that you will unbiasedly review the information presented by New Hope Group, and that you will see that history and evidence provides you with enough confidence to make the right choice for not only the Oakey and Toowoomba communities, but also for the state of Queensland.
