Wheelbarrow Diplomacy

Friends of Felton took Toowoomba by storm on Monday when they descended on the city centre armed with wheelbarrows full of vegetables.

Recent research has revealed the Felton/ Cambooya/Wyreema district supports a horticultural industry earning over $23million/yr and employing over 340 people. Every week, these farms produce 750,000 lettuces, 65,000 cauliflowers, and 60,000 bunches of celery.

If the Felton project is allowed to proceed, it would set a precedent for other mining projects right across the Toowoomba region. New Hope Coal has identified coal deposits at Wyreema, Pittsworth, Wellcamp, and Mount Russell. Coalworks Ltd is studying the feasibility of a mine at Hodgson Vale - a suburb of Toowoomba City.

Let's put a stop to this madness.

LNP promises to protect Felton

Toowoomba Chronicle report 6-3-09

LNP leader Lawrence Springborg yesterday tapped into his supporter heartland by promising to protect areas like the Felton Valley and Haystack Plain from mining.
Mr Springborg promised his party would put into place "planning processes" to protect the two areas from mining development.
"These are iconic areas," Mr Springborg said. "It’s stupid to be mining areas as irreplaceable as those."
He was speaking at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Picnic Point.
Prime Darling Downs agricultural land in the Felton Valley, south of Toowoomba, has been threatened by a proposed open cut coal mine and petrochemical plant by mining and exploration company, Ambre Energy.
Meanwhile, the Haystack Plain is under a Mineral Development Licence held by State-owned corporation, Tarong Energy.
LNP candidate for Condamine Ray Hopper said the policy announcement came after a lot of "lobbying and discussion" with the LNP leader.
"You’ve heard it from the boss today," Mr Hopper said.
"We will not allow mining at Felton or Haystack if we are elected on March 21."

Friends of Felton is an apolitical organisation. We are pleased that the LNP has promised to protect Felton, and call on the other parties in the Qld election to make the same commitment.