Help stop coal exploration near Mudgee!

Well here we are, the HUNGRY blog really exists! Who knows if there’ll ever be another post! Let’s take a look!

The NSW Government is considering whether or not to open up two coal mining leases for exploration in Central West NSW, near Mudgee and Rylstone. They are currently going through a “Preliminary Regional Issues Assessment” process which aims to determine whether there is a business case for opening up these two areas (Hawkins & Rumker) to coal exploration by mining companies.

Cox’s Creek Road, near Rylstone. The left side of the road is in the proposed Rumker coal exploration lease.

Part of the process is an online submission form allowing people to voice their concerns about the impacts of these mines on the local community, the economy, and the country at large.

The proposed zone takes in Cox’s Creek Rd, a gravel road near Rylstone that will form part of the (in development) Blue Mountains 1000 route, and takes you all the way through to the Upper Hunter Valley at Denman. The impact that mining will have on this road and the surrounding areas is unclear, though it’s well known that mining leads to severe degradation of drinking water, the loss of native plants and animals, as well is increased traffic and road damage due to mining vehicles travelling through this area.

With the modernisation of train services to Lithgow, as well as further investment in cycling routes in the Central West (see the Central West Cycle Trail), this area is poised to see a huge boom in tourism over the coming years, especially with international borders remaining closed for the foreseeable future.

Nearby Ben Bullen - part of the Blue Mountains 1000 route

Mines don’t create the jobs they promise to communities, they bring in workers and when the work is done they leave, and take the money with them. Tourism investment creates long lasting and empowering jobs for the area that keeps money in the region.

If you’ve got the time, it would be very much appreciated if you could make a submission to the PRIA stating your opposition to opening up these areas for coal mining. The Rylstone Region Coal Free Community has created this excellent document (<click!) outlining the key points you can hit on in your submission. Please have a read, and make your submission to the PRIA here (<also CLICK!). Submissions close 18/8/21.

What I’ve written here is a very small selection of issues, there are many more problems with these mining leases including the destruction of Aboriginal heritage sites (that early reports have denied the existence of…). The opening of new coal mines is also directly at odds with the NSW State governments net zero emissions goals, and far out of step with G7 and other global emissions targets. For further reading please check out these articles:

Threats to Wollemi National Park from 8 new coal mining leases. - NPANSW

Aboriginal heritage sites identified in controversial coal exploration zones in NSW - ABC News

Thanks very much for reading, and for your submissions! I very much look forward to sharing more of this beautiful area with you all well into the future and recommend anyone with a fondness for #gravel to get out, explore, and support these communities! If you’re looking for a route out that way feel free to get in touch on Instagram or by email.

Xoxo, lots of love!