Land owner Debra van Breda of Austinmer with daughter Collette and husband Jim van Breda at home. Picture: Russell Melanie Source: The Sunday Telegraph
MINING companies are resorting to devious tactics to secure large parcels of land for coal exploration in the Southern Highlands, outraged residents say.
Liberal Party branch president and anti-mining advocate Michael Ball said he was horrified to discover he had unknowingly sold a 465ha holding he co-owned near Bowral to mining firm Hume Coal after it bought it under the name Aurelius Rural Pty Ltd.
Mr Ball, who protests against the expansion of coalmining in the area because of the potential pollution and damage to water supplies, said he thought he was selling the land -- between the Hume and Illawarra highways -- to an agricultural business. He said it wasn't until after the $8 million deal was done that he learnt Aurelius Rural was a $1 shelf company set up by Hume Coal, which is owned by a South Korean steel firm.
"The least you could call (those tactics) would be devious. I'm absolutely ropeable about it," Mr Ball said, adding he was overseas at the time of the transaction.
The Sunday Telegraph
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