Monday, February 20

Mining on farmland will be a key Qld election issue

The mining versus agriculture debate is expected to be one of the hottest topics for rural Queensland during the state election campaign.

And on just the second day of the official five week campaign, a rally is being staged on the Darling Downs, protesting against a nearby coal mine.

It's been a long running debate in the bush, the struggle between farmers and miners for land, which sees Queensland's booming resources sector pitted against primary producers.

Today there's up to 100 people rallying near Jondaryan, a town west of Toowoomba on the Warrego Highway which is close to the Acland Coal Mine.

Rally organiser from the Lock the Gate Alliance Drew Hutton says he's concerned about an expansion of the mine known as stage three.

"It's going to got to a four million tonne a year mine, which is a medium sized mine to over ten million tonnes per year."

"They've obliterated the town of Acland and in fact that one person who is left will be at our rally today."


ABC Rural

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