[Greens-Media] BHP trading Liverpool Plains food bowl for coal - Brown

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

30 October 2008

BHP trading Liverpool Plains food bowl for coal - Brown

BHP should listen to the concerns of local farmers and put the Liverpool
Plains food bowl ahead of its insatiable appetite for coal, Australian
Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said today.

Senator Brown today visited the site of a farmers' protest blockade at
Caroona, near Tamworth in NSW, with Independent Member for New England,
Tony Windsor. Senator Brown said that plans by BHP to explore for coal
in the rich agricultural region were strongly opposed by farmers,
environmentalists and the local community, who had joined together to
ask for agricultural land to be protected from potential degradation by
coal mining.

"I have committed to ensuring that there is an independent study on the
effect of mining on the aquifer when the Federal Government's Water
Amendment Bill comes through the Senate," Senator Brown said.

"I am hopeful that the support of the Greens, Independent Senators and
the Coalition will mean that the Federal Government must look at
completing this independent study before BHP's exploration or mining
goes ahead."

"BHP simply doesn't know what the effects on the region's unique aquifer
will be from drilling approximately 300 core holes - or what will happen
if large-scale underground mining is approved, extracting coal for some
30-50 years into the future."

"Coal mining contributes to dangerous climate change which is making
droughts longer and drier in some parts of Australia."

Senator Brown said that the Greens supported calls for an independent
catchment-wide groundwater study to be undertaken before any further
exploration or large scale mining was considered.

"The future should be based on renewable energy, and support for local
food production that supports local farmers and local communities."

NB: Senator Brown today held a joint press conference with independent
MHR Tony Windsor, and local farmer Timothy Duddy at the Duddy family
property, Rossmar Park, Caroona.

Further information: Russell Kelly 0438 376 082.

Tim Hollo
Media Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
ph: (02) 6277 3588
mob: 0437 587 562

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