Paul Hogan OAM has sounded a rally cry to Manning Valley residents to fight the Rocky Hill Mine Project proposed for Gloucester.
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The former Greater Taree City Council mayor said he could “see the damage that will be caused to the Gloucester community by the coal mine and I don’t want to see it happen.”
The original development application for the Rocky Hill Mine Project has undergone significant change and today Tuesday, September 9 representatives of MidCoast Council and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment will host community meetings to discuss the proposal and submission process. Members of the public can make a submission to the Department of Planning and Environment until October 14.
Mr Hogan said it was important for people to learn about the Rocky Hill Mine Project and to consider its impact on the environment.
“We travel to Gloucester a lot and enjoy the environment of Gloucester. It would be a tragedy to see something of that scale on the outskirts of the town.
“’If you don’t open your mouth and express your view as to what things can hurt our community, well, we’ve lost the plot.
“I can see the damage that will be caused to the Gloucester community by this coal mine. Yes, it may bring jobs but not many jobs.
“When you fly over Muswellbrook and see the landscape that has been marked by open cut coal mines and the damage that has been done to the environment – it sickens me.
“To see that happening within 500 metres of the village of Gloucester would be a tragedy.
”To my knowledge, the Rocky Hill Mine Project had not been approved by Gloucester Shire Council and I’m researching now to find previous Minutes of the council. I’ve also read that Gloucester Shire Council did have a mineral extraction policy and it was clear that Gloucester Shire Council would not be in favour of the Rocky Hill Mine Project.
“In the proclamation for the council amalgamation there was a clause that mentioned that existing policies and decisions of council would be followed.”
The community meetings will be held at the MidCoast Council Administration Centre, 89 King Street, Gloucester from noon until 3pm and the Senior Citizens Centre in Hume Street, Gloucester from 5.15pm until 7pm.
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