HUNTER LAND OWNER TAKES ON COAL GIANT

A David and Goliath battle is underway in the NSW Supreme Court today as mining giant Yancoal takes on Hunter Valley property owner Wendy Bowman.

The 80-year-old and her 182 hectare Campberwell property “Rosedale” stand in the way of Yancoal’s plans to expand its Ashton South East open cut mine. The sixth generation farmer won’t sell because of the impacts she says the mine will have on land and water.

“We need to keep food-growing soils in Australia, not dig them up for coal. I will not be selling regardless of the appeal outcome,” said Mrs Bowman.

Yancoal is arguing Justice Pain lacked the power to impose a condition that Mrs Bowman’s property has to be purchased before the expansion happens.

“Experts say these farming soils can’t be replaced. We should preserve the region’s agricultural land for generations to come, creating a healthy future, not trash them for a seven year project to boost the profits of a Chinese company beset with financial woes,” Mrs Bowman said.

“I am concerned about all the water users downstream, particularly the world famous Hunter wine and tourism industry that relies entirely on water from Glennies Creek that supplies the Lower Hunter.”

“It’s beyond me why any mine expansion is needed, when the bottom has fallen out of the thermal coal market, and there’s abundant sun and wind power to be had,” Mrs Bowman concluded.

Yancoal has said it’s confident it can operate the mine without impacting the water table.