The Environmental Defender鈥檚 Office NSW has advised community group Illawarra Residents for Responsible Mining Inc in a court case that will test the legality of mining company Gujarat NRE鈥檚 decision to start longwall mining in its Russell Vale colliery earlier this year.
The community near Russell Vale, just north of Wollongong, of its No 1 Colliery. Their concerns include the potential impact on the Illawarra鈥檚 drinking water catchment, air quality, and increased noise and truck movements in their neighbourhood.
Residents have been frustrated by the lack of community consultation from the company and the government, and are calling for a fair consultative process.
Illawarra Residents for Responsible Mining spokesperson Kaye Osborn told 麻豆传媒 Weekly: 鈥淭he public was not given adequate notification of the application to commence longwall mining and so there was no opportunity for public comment.
鈥淭he Department of Trade and Investment and the Department of Planning and Infrastructure have failed in their responsibility to ensure that mining approvals follow clear and transparent processes and consider the impact on residential neighbourhoods.鈥
The group will now take its arguments to court. Osborn said: 鈥淲e believe that the commencement of longwall mining by Gujarat NRE in the absence of an appropriate development consent is unlawful and irresponsible.鈥
The group claims one victory against the mining giant. It says its concerted lobbying stopped Gujarat鈥檚 attempt to influence the Department of Planning and Infrastructure prescribed Community Consultation Committee, and replace it with a 50 member 鈥淐ommunity Reference Group鈥.
Members of Gujarat鈥檚 preferred Community Reference Group were to be appointed by the mine itself and the mechanisms to support transparency and accountability had been stripped away.
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