Question number two asked “Can you categorically rule out mine expansion?”

Bickham Coal Company gave the unequivocal response, “We have no intentions of expanding the mine.”

However, as evidenced on page 14 of NSW Planning Department’s submissions report for the Queensland Hunter Gas Pipeline, it was noted in Submission 30 that the pipeline would “need to avoid the proposed Bickham coal mine south-east of Murrurundi, particularly since the mine proponents had expressed a desire to proceed with underground mining on the western side of the New England Highway.”

As the proposed mine is situated on the eastern side of the New England Highway and the proposed method of mining is open cut, I can only surmise that this submission directly contradicts the Bickham Coal Company’s publicly stated position on future mine expansion. Furthermore, it is my belief that the apparently misleading answer given by Bickham Coal Company to Mr Haydon’s second question casts a doubt on the veracity of their other 29 answers and reaffirms to me most strongly that the Bickham coal-mine remains “the wrong mine in the wrong place.”

Predictably the proponents have issued a denial without any accompanying explanation as to why, when, by whom and on behalf of whom Submission 30 to the Planning Department was made. Somewhat ironically, Bickham Coal Company’s denial states, “We consider that underground mining at or near the Bickham site would be unsuitable, given the nature of the landscape.” Would that they could concede that any mining in this landscape is unsuitable, particularly given the proximity to fragile water courses, sources and tables.

I thank Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon for bringing Submission 30 to public attention.

This potential catastrophe must not be allowed to proceed.