An Australian farmer who has lived next to a large open-cast coalmine is 
among speakers at a meeting next month who will lay out the environmental, 
health and climatic impact of Solid Energy's proposed large-scale lignite 
projects in Southland. 
Queensland cattle and grain farmer Sid Plant is coming to New Zealand for the 
Keep the Coal in the Hole Summer Festival, being held south of Mataura by Coal 
Action Network Aotearoa. 
The three-day festival will be held on the Craig Rd farm of Mike Dumbar, one 
of the few landowners who have not sold to or signed deals with the 
Government-owned coalminer to give it access to the tonnes of lignite in the 
area. 
Mr Dumbar's farm is on the doorstep of Solid Energy's $25million briquetting 
plant, the first of its multibillion-dollar projects. 
Coal Action Network spokesman Kristin Gillies said Mr Plant would bring a 
first-hand account of the devastating impact open-cast coalmining had had on 
farming and the local community.
The Southland Times
 
 
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