[Greens-Media] Pollies for Small Business: Greens MP Lee Rhiannon visits vineyard in shadow of Anvil Hill coalmine

[Susie Gemmell]

Media Alert
23 July 2007	 

Pollies for Small Business: Greens MP Lee Rhiannon visits vineyard in
shadow of Anvil Hill coalmine

Small businesses across New South Wales will once again be putting
their local politicians to work as part of the NSW Business Chamber
annual Pollies for Small Business program (Monday 23 July to Saturday 28
July 2007).

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon will visit an Upper Hunter winery and vineyard
right next door to the recently approved Anvil Hill coalmine site.

When:	10am to 12pm, Wednesday 25 July 2007
Where:	Yarraman Estate, 700 Yarraman Road, Wybong

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said she is looking forward to seeing first hand
how wine is made and discussing with the owners of the Yarraman Estate
the challenges facing the Hunter wine industry. 

“Wineries and other small businesses in the Hunter make a vital
contribution to the local and national economy. Working at the Yarraman
Estate will give me a unique opportunity to understand the impact of the
drought, coal mining and the wine glut on their operations,” Ms
Rhiannon said.

“The growth of coal mining in this idyllic valley is creating ugly
scars, threatening tourism and wine sales.

“The Anvil Hill mine and others in the area will create enormous
competition for water. To top it off, there’s a risk that coal dust
will contaminate grapes, making Hunter wine undrinkable.“

NSW Business Chamber CEO, Kevin MacDonald, said that with all the
attention given to big picture issues like climate change, occupational,
health & safety and interest rates by our politicians, this program is a
fantastic opportunity for politicians to see first hand how these issues
are actually affecting small business. 

“Last year we had 90 Members of Parliament participating and involved
members from all political parties and the independents”, Mr MacDonald
said.

“This is a great program and our chambers and businesses throughout
NSW have found it useful in helping businesspeople and MPs understand
each other better.”

The NSW Business Chamber Pollies for Small Business program is run in
cooperation with the local Chamber of Commerce network.

More information and photo opportunities:
Lee Rhiannon: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568.  
For more information on the Statewide event contact Chris Taylor 9350
8184.


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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon-Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0431 458 102
Email susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au