What happens when the rivers stop flowing,
and the mountains of dirt just keep blowing?
and the wide open scars are a message so far
from the eyes and the minds of knowing.
But who knows? Those in Sydney perhaps?
Cause it’s full of such clever type chaps.
Friends from companies large, through townships they barge
and watch as communities collapse.
How green was the valley we saw?
Massive holes where was once forest floor.
It was painful to see this proposed destiny
when renewables offer so much more.
and the mountains of dirt just keep blowing?
and the wide open scars are a message so far
from the eyes and the minds of knowing.
But who knows? Those in Sydney perhaps?
Cause it’s full of such clever type chaps.
Friends from companies large, through townships they barge
and watch as communities collapse.
How green was the valley we saw?
Massive holes where was once forest floor.
It was painful to see this proposed destiny
when renewables offer so much more.
I was one of nine Hunter Greens candidates who went on a bus tour to the Upper Hunter today. The view …spectacularly devastating. It seemed like it was one big hole from the back of Broke to Muswellbrook.
Couldn’t help feel that Muswellbrook was a town in the way of a mine. The local residents live with constant blasting, low level vibrations which “just send you mad” and dust.
It was a ‘good’ day for dust on our visit, not too much wind, you could see the constant dust haze, but you could see. The ‘crusties’ in my nose after the day trip told a different story though.
We had a look at the proposed Anvill Hill mine site, it stretched as far as the eye could see. We travelled the road that gives the residents from Sandy Hollow and Denman access to Muswellbrook, this road is set to go should the mines go ahead. An extra 1 ½ hours on the trip to town for some.
We stopped at Denman to hear from the local grape and lucerne growers. These farmers livelihoods are being jeopardised by the lack of water they have access to. Mining is a water and energy hungry industry and it gets a priority on the available water. Some of these farmers who have always received 100% of their water allowances found out late last year they were only going to get 8%, just enough to keep the cows alive, and not much more.
Greens Upper House representative Lee Rhiannon has been very active in supporting the mine ravaged communities of the Hunter if you want to see for yourself, have a look at her site and the on line photo journal.