Concerned Surf Coast residents have rallied together to oppose the Baillieu Government's plans to renew the Alcoa Anglesea mining lease for a further 50 years and potentially expand their coal mining operations into sensitive native heathlands.
While the Federal Senate Committee is currently investigating the possibility of adverse health effects for people living in close proximity to wind farms, Anglesea Air Action says that since the majority of Anglesea residents live within 2km of the Anglesea coal mine, locals also have the right to an inquiry into the known adverse health effects for people living in close proximity to coal mines.
Dr Merryn Redenbach of Doctors for the Environment Australia says "Coal dust around mines contains toxic compounds including lead, mercury, arsenic and uranium. Coal combustion creates particulates which are inhaled, causing lung damage.â€
Caroline Hawkins from the Surf Coast Energy Group says “We understand time is needed to transition to alternatives. However given the uncertain future of brown coal in an increasingly carbon constrained world, it's highly irresponsible for the Government to be considering renewing the lease for a further 50 years.â€
The Anglesea Heath is claimed as the richest and most diverse vegetation community in Victoria and is listed with the Australian Heritage Commission's register of the National Estate. The Alcoa lease land is surrounded by this environmentally sensitive heathland and forms part of the Otways National Park. The group believes before any disruption to the area goes ahead, there should be a thorough investigation into the potential effect on the region and a mandatory Environmental Impacts Statement.
This Saturday Anglesea Air Action will be holding a public information session highlighting concerns about these proposals at 12pm, Anglesea Riverbank. Everyone is welcome.
For more information contact: info@sceg.org.au
Comments
Re: Anglesea coal mine expansion – we can’t believe it either!
I saw the coalmine at Anglesea from overhead on GoogleEarth while looking up coastal places for a week's holiday accommodation next month. What a massive and horrible scar on the landscape. I certainly wouldn't be able to walk into the bushland behind Anglesea as I'd planned, and local businesses must lose some good tourist opportunities.
Such a shame the state government has rubberstamped its continuation and possible expansion. The dust must be awful in summer.
Countries that use coal for home heating and cooking have big problems with conditions like fluorosis (disabling bone deformities and brittling), caused by inhaling fluoride which is very high in coal dust and coal smoke. Alcoa would know all about fluoride with its aluminium smelter in Portland where reputable research, including photos, shows the nearby kangaroo population has bone deformities, caused by fluoride poisoning (fluorosis again) from inhaling smoke from Alcoa's chimneys there, and eating vegetation nearby which is also toxic with fluoride, fluoride being a byproduct of aluminium smelting. Any of this information can be found with a googlesearch, and by reading the World Health Organisation's reports on the toxicity of fluoride in coal in many poorer countries.
I'm surprised that Dr Redenbach hasn't mentioned fluoride among the known toxins contained in coal as well. Good luck to all those speaking up in opposition.