ID :
195354
Sat, 07/16/2011 - 14:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/195354
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Qld farmers vow to fight mines at election
SYDNEY July 16 (AAP)-Farmers in one of Queensland's richest food bowls are saying their votes are up for grabs and the way to buy them is to protect them from coal mining.
Central Queensland grain growers say former environment minister Kate Jones did "a backflip" on a promise to ban new mines on their land.
Wheat and legume farmer Ben Sullivan told AAP the government has given Bandanna Energy special consideration for an underground coalmine it wants to build in Springsure, south of Emerald.
Mr Sullivan said it's a move that could cost Ms Jones her Brisbane seat of Ashgrove - a seat that the latest newspoll says aspiring premier Campbell Newman has a big chance of winning.
He said farmers from his region, known as the golden triangle, have joined forces to take their fight to the next state election.
The battle between farmers and mining companies is shaping up to be a major state election issue with farmers in the Darling Downs, west of Brisbane, also protesting hard against the rapid growth of coal seam gas.
"The way the state government is looking, it's virtually on a knife's edge but the votes are there for whoever is going to protect the land the best," Mr Sullivan said.
"We need to double our output in grain in 30 years and if the land keeps being taken from us we can't do it.
"We will bring our message to the city."
He said they'll particularly target voters in the Ashgrove electorate.
"Campbell Newman has to make a choice on which side he's going to be on (the mining companies or farmers)," Mr Sullivan said.
The Liberal National Party leader has told reporters he will visit the Springsure area on Tuesday.
The LNP's annual convention also voted on Friday to review all mining and exploration permits if it wins the next election.
Gindie grain farmer Andrew Bate said the government needed to take farmers seriously.
"They've got a big wake up call coming (the government)," Mr Bate told AAP.
"This is the biggest issue that has ever hit the bush."
Under the Queensland government's strategic cropping land proposal, the golden triangle was going to be off-limits to new mines unless developers submitted their environmental impact statement terms of reference by May 31.
Mr Bate said Bandanna Energy missed the due date but struck a deal with the Bligh government to be exempted from the laws.
Natural Resources Minister Rachel Nolan said Bandanna was granted "transitional conditions" after it provided a written assurance that the project would not permanently damage the land.
"Bandanna had already submitted Environmental Impact Statement Terms of Reference when we announced our strategic cropping land criteria," Ms Nolan said in a statement.
"This was due to be approved by the government.
"The project has to protect strategic cropping land and can now only go ahead as an underground project.
"Any impacts on soil must be rehabilitated."
But Mr Bate said there's no research that proves soil can be rehabilitated to prime agricultural land after being heavily mined.
Central Queensland grain growers say former environment minister Kate Jones did "a backflip" on a promise to ban new mines on their land.
Wheat and legume farmer Ben Sullivan told AAP the government has given Bandanna Energy special consideration for an underground coalmine it wants to build in Springsure, south of Emerald.
Mr Sullivan said it's a move that could cost Ms Jones her Brisbane seat of Ashgrove - a seat that the latest newspoll says aspiring premier Campbell Newman has a big chance of winning.
He said farmers from his region, known as the golden triangle, have joined forces to take their fight to the next state election.
The battle between farmers and mining companies is shaping up to be a major state election issue with farmers in the Darling Downs, west of Brisbane, also protesting hard against the rapid growth of coal seam gas.
"The way the state government is looking, it's virtually on a knife's edge but the votes are there for whoever is going to protect the land the best," Mr Sullivan said.
"We need to double our output in grain in 30 years and if the land keeps being taken from us we can't do it.
"We will bring our message to the city."
He said they'll particularly target voters in the Ashgrove electorate.
"Campbell Newman has to make a choice on which side he's going to be on (the mining companies or farmers)," Mr Sullivan said.
The Liberal National Party leader has told reporters he will visit the Springsure area on Tuesday.
The LNP's annual convention also voted on Friday to review all mining and exploration permits if it wins the next election.
Gindie grain farmer Andrew Bate said the government needed to take farmers seriously.
"They've got a big wake up call coming (the government)," Mr Bate told AAP.
"This is the biggest issue that has ever hit the bush."
Under the Queensland government's strategic cropping land proposal, the golden triangle was going to be off-limits to new mines unless developers submitted their environmental impact statement terms of reference by May 31.
Mr Bate said Bandanna Energy missed the due date but struck a deal with the Bligh government to be exempted from the laws.
Natural Resources Minister Rachel Nolan said Bandanna was granted "transitional conditions" after it provided a written assurance that the project would not permanently damage the land.
"Bandanna had already submitted Environmental Impact Statement Terms of Reference when we announced our strategic cropping land criteria," Ms Nolan said in a statement.
"This was due to be approved by the government.
"The project has to protect strategic cropping land and can now only go ahead as an underground project.
"Any impacts on soil must be rehabilitated."
But Mr Bate said there's no research that proves soil can be rehabilitated to prime agricultural land after being heavily mined.
