Petition has 6700 signatures opposing coal mine

An Empire Bay resident who started a petition to stop the Wallarah 2 Coal Mine has gathered more than 6700 signatures, towards his 7500 goal.

Mr Gregory Olsen launched the petition nine months ago.

"Wallarah 2 was approved by the NSW Planning and Assessment Commission even though it is a risky unwanted coal mine that threatens the safe drinking water supply for hundreds of thousands of people on the Central Coast through acknowledged subsidence and decreased water levels," Mr Olsen said.

"The reality of the decarbonisation of the energy industry has resulted in the economic viability of coal mines being brought under scrutiny.

"Indeed, the Commission acknowledged that the future of thermal coal was uncertain and an unplanned early mine closure would have socio-economic and possible environmental impacts," Mr Olsen said.

"The Commission conceded subsidence will occur above the extraction area and the change in ground level has the potential to flood property and emergency access routes and impact built structures.

"How can this possibly be deemed an acceptable risk?

"In addition to potential subsidence and water effects, the mine requires the clearing of 43.4 hectares of potential habitat for the vulnerable spotted-tail quoll.

"History has shown us that profit comes before people and the environment.

"It will be no different here if a catastrophe occurs.

"Through my petition, I call upon all the elected representatives in the NSW State Government to join with the vast majority of the people of NSW to, in the strongest possible terms, speak up against this deluded decision and agree to lead the community's fight to prevent the mine's development," Mr Olsen said.

Nine months on, Mr Olsen said the community's sentiments towards the coal mine had not waned but had strengthened.

He attended the recent Wallarah 2 protest held in Gosford's Kibble Park on October 31 and urged the concerned residents to make their opinions known at the ballot box come the Federal and State elections in March and May.

"About 80 Central Coast residents made a stand against the proposed Wallarah 2 Coal Mine in Gosford's Kibble Park," Mr Olsen said.

"Impassioned speeches were made by the Australian Coal Alliance's Mike Campbell and local environmental advocate Jake Cassar, urging the people of the Central Coast to tell our politicians that the proposed Wallarah 2 Coal Mine is unacceptable and must be stopped.

"With the NSW election to be held in March, and the Federal election most likely in May, we must hold our representatives to account at the ballot box," Mr Olsen said.

Once Mr Olsen reaches his signature goal he will deliver his petition to Federal Environment Minister Mr Josh Frydenberg and NSW Minister for Planning Mr Anthony Roberts.

Peninsula residents can view Mr Olsen's petition on the Change.org website.

SOURCE:

Petition, 1 Nov 2018

Gregory Olsen, Empire Bay