Maitland environmentalists have joined forces with their Hunter counterparts to pass a resolution rejecting a proposed fourth coal terminal.
A small group of Maitland residents attended the Paddock to Port public forum in Newcastle on Wednesday night with the group calling on the NSW and Federal governments to reject the coal terminal and associated mine expansions in the Hunter.
“We are confident that people have been encouraged to become more involved in this issue by lodging submissions of objection when the project is released for public comment,” forum organiser Bev Smiles said.
During the forum Dr Graeme Horton, from Doctors for the Environment Australia, outlined that 19 unknown cancer-causing agents and pollutants – including arsenic – were generated through the extraction and transportation of coal.
While Matt Grudoff, from The Australia Institute, declared that the fourth coal terminal would keep the Hunter locked into “this dead end industry”.
“Local communities believe that enough of the Hunter has been sacrificed to the coal industry and it is time to move on to more diverse, lower impact industries that will employ more people,” Ms Smiles said.
Maitland Mercury
No comments:
Post a Comment