The true power of community strength was evident in Kingaroy on Tuesday night at the Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Forum. A 900 strong crowd demonstrated unequivocally that they did not agree Moreton Resources should be granted permission to build a coal mine so close to Kingaroy.
I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to attend and present their views. I’d also like to thank the Kingaroy Concerned Citizens group who did a remarkable job organising the evening and presenting a great deal of information in an easy to understand format. It is forums and events such as these which galvanise a community and help me, as your local Member, to take your message to the decision makers.
I’d like to reconfirm two of the points I spoke about at the forum. Firstly, before Moreton proceeds with any further plans, they must show good faith and start baseline monitoring in and around the exploration site, Kingaroy township and surrounds. This must be independent monitoring which provides data on things such as dust, groundwater and noise so we, as a community, know what environmental conditions we have right now.
Secondly, only 1% of all exploration permits for coal ever proceed to a full a development licence. There is much ahead of us before this mine could be granted permission, and I think Moreton have just been served one of the biggest hurdles they will face – a resounding lack of community support. As promised, I will now take the results of the forum to the Minister for Mines and the Shadow Minister so they can understand how the Kingaroy community feels about the possibility of a coal mine on their doorstep.
