The blockade of environmentalists, farmers and residents in Boggabri, protest the likely expansion of an existing coal project.
BOGGABRI farmers, residents and environmentalists blockaded Leard Forest Road last week, angry that a massive expansion by Japanese-owned Idemitsu for its existing Boggabri Coal project is likely to proceed, while Aston Coal’s Maules Creek proposal has received a tick from the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC).
Idemitsu Australia, a subsidiary of Japanese company Idemitsu Kosan, wants a 21-year extension of Boggabri Coal, closing Leard Forest Road and doubling coal production from 3.2 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 7mtpa in a $350 million development.
Maules Creek Community Coun-cil (MCCC) spokesman and cotton farmer Peter Watson said locals were at the end of their tether.
He said the community felt their appeals to the mine and State government against the expansion had been ignored.
The Department of Planning is yet to determine both the Boggabri Coal expansion and the separately owned Maules Creek project, which seeks to extract 13mtpa in a 21-year open cut mine.
“Protest was the only option left open to us; we’ve tried every other avenue,” Mr Watson said.
The Land
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