Liberals firm against coal mine

I write in response to Mr Carl Veugen's letter ("Mining may affect water") published in your January 10 edition.

Mr Veugen's concerns that mining in the Wyong Valleys may affect water for all Central Coast residents are valid.

Hydrological evidence shows that the Kores proposal could seriously affect Central Coast water catchment and water security for Central Coast residents.

The Liberal Party has consistently stood side-by-side with the people of Wyong and the people of the Central Coast to oppose new coal mining underneath Central Coast water catchment.

At a public rally on January 28, 2009, Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell pledged the State Opposition would oppose the Kores project.

Mr O'Farrell attended the protest rally in support of Liberal Candidate for Gosford Chris Holstein, Liberal Candidate for Wyong Darren Webber, Liberal Candidate for The Entrance Chris Spence and Member for Terrigal Chris Hartcher.

Disappointingly, the same can't be said for the sitting Central Coast Labor Members and the Labor candidates for this year's State election.

Labor candidates for Gosford and The Entrance have avoided the issue at every opportunity, a reflection of their NSW Labor Party breeding, whilst Labor Member for Wyong David Harris has even gone so far as to avoid a vote in Parliament on this issue.

The Labor Member for Wyong's claims that he has been lobbying premier Kristina Keneally in opposition to this project with no result is simply proof of his ineffectiveness as a local Member of Parliament.

Our position on this important issue is clear.

The Central Coast Liberals will not allow the safety of our water security to be put at risk.

If we are elected to Government on March 26, there will be no Wallarah 2 coal mine.

Letter, 3 Feb 2011 Chris Hartcher, Member for Terrigal