By VANESSA VALENZUELA
CONCERNED residents opposed to coal mining in Wyndham and Melbourne’s West met last Friday to address community concern about the legal and health issues of coal exploration in the municipality.
Speakers attended the public meeting at the Crossroads Uniting Church Hall in Werribee to discuss with the public the health and environmental issues of coal mining, the impact it will have on the traffic, the legal rights of the community and the power of the local councils.
Western Region Environment Centre director Harry van Moorst said residents raised concerns about coal mining plans in the Wyndham area after mining company Regal Resources applied to renew their license for another 10 years.
“Most people are not aware of what is being proposed and that risks that go with that, but when they do find out they get very concerned,” Mr van Moorst said.
“The biggest single issue for a lot of people is the health situation but people are also concerned about the traffic and there will be thousands of more trucks that will be on the roads.”
Mr van Moorst said the group had lodged an objection to the licence renewal and is seeking a meeting with the Department of Primary Industries to discuss the objection in greater detail.
He said more than 700 residents had signed a petition encouraging council to take a stand on the issue but they have not yet received a response.
WREC member and coal activist Paul Harder said the renewal of the licence was contrary to the council’s strategic plans and policies for the municipality.
“Once again it has been left to us to do the council’s job for it, just as occurred with the Green Wedge in Point Cook,” Mr Harder said.
