Friends of Felton

www.fof.org.au is now online

2009-12-29T16:07:00.000-08:00

We now have a proper website.

Please go there for the latest news on our campaign. This blog will serve as an archive of our activities from February 2008 until December 2009.

You can contact us at friendsoffelton@live.com

National Farmers Federation visit to Felton

2009-11-30T14:03:00.001-08:00

NFF President David Crombie and CEO Ben Fargher visited Felton yesterday, accompanied by Agforce Vice-President Ian Burnett, on a fact-finding mission. A large crowd of 80 people gathered at Felton Hall for morning tea & discussion, followed by a visit to the site of Ambre Energy's proposed development, and a visit to the area over which Newmont Pacific Energy holds a Mineral Development Licence.

Ambre Energy in financial trouble?

2009-11-23T02:40:00.000-08:00

Ambre Energy's Annual Report 2009 carries a warning from auditors Grant Thornton.

Here's an excerpt -

'In addition...the group has forecast that it may deplete its current cash reserves by June 2010. Sunsequent to year end, the company released an Information Memorandum to raise approximately $10million. At the date of this report, the company has raised approximately $2.6million..... and the directors believe that the balance up to $10million shall be received.

If this funding or alternative sources of capital are not able to be obtained, there exists significant uncertainty whether Ambre energy Limited and its controlled entities would be able to continue as a going concern....'

Ambre has it's eyes on Back Plains too....

2009-11-23T02:10:00.000-08:00

Ambre Energy has plans for further drilling at Back Plains , midway between Felton, Nobby , and Clifton. The company claims to have found a 'highly promising prospect'.
Toowoomba Chronicle report here.

People Power triumphs at Traveston

2009-11-10T22:42:00.000-08:00

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garret today rejected the Traveston Dam proposal.

"It is clear to me that the Traveston Dam cannot go ahead without unacceptable impacts on matters of national environmental importance" he said.

Now for Felton!

Clean Coal? 'Probably never' - MacFarlane

2009-11-10T16:41:00.000-08:00

Senior Coalition frontbencher and chief ETS negotiator Ian MacFarlane put it bluntly when asked about Clean Coal on ABC Four Corners on Monday night.

"The reality is you are not going to see another coal-fired power station built in Australia. That, that's a simple fact. You can talk all the stuff you like about carbon capture storage, that concept will not materialise for 20 years, and probably never" he said.

View the entire program here.

Ambre Energy's so-called Felton 'Clean Coal' Project looks to be in big trouble.....

Clean coal "not viable for 20 years"

2009-11-02T01:55:00.000-08:00

The Australian Government's own Carbon Capture & Storage Institute says that 'clean coal' power generation will not be viable commercially until 2030.

"A viable business case for commercial scale, integrated projects has not been established at this time for coal-fired power generation and other large CO2-emitting industries" says a report released by the institute last week.

Media reports here - The Australian, ABC Radio AM

So where does this leave Ambre Energy's so-called Felton 'Clean Coal' Project? Back to the drawing board for a name change perhaps. How about the 'Felton Environmental Destruction Project'?

Watch the latest spoof coal ad from Getup!

Friends of Felton Raceday success

2009-10-29T16:07:00.000-07:00

Our raceday in Toowoomba on Saturday was a resounding success. More than 300 people packed the Grand Marquee at Clifford Park, and were entertained by a string quartet. Guest auctioneers Rob Caton and Matt Cleary did a great job, and a large amount of money was raised to help our campaign against mining development at Felton.

Special thanks to our race sponsors - Oakey Veterinary Hospital, Glenmar Fuels, Hannas, Elders Real Estate Toowoomba, Pittsworth Veterinary Surgery, Stillwater Pastoral Co, and Ray White Rural Pittsworth

Farmers: Give a Tonne or Two to Felton!

2009-10-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

From left: John Gilmour (FOF graindrive coordinator), Pat Sullivan (Graincorp Operations Manager), Rob McCreath (FOF President)

Friends of Felton this week launched a fundraising grain drive called “Give a Tonne or Two to Felton”.

We are currently raising funds to employ consultants to prepare a response to the EIS for the proposed Felton coal mining development, which Ambre Energy says will be released for public comment early 2010.

The Felton project is a test case, being the furthest advanced mining project on prime farmland.

It would be hard to imagine a proposal with more impact on farmland, the environment, and the community. We are confident that we can stop this project, and draw a line in the black soil which will set a precedent to protect other threatened areas, such as Caroona, Haystack and Jimbour.

‘Give a Tonne or Two to Felton’ is an easy way for graingrowers to contribute to the cause.

At any grain receival point, just ask for a tonne or two of grain to be warehoused under Friends of Felton’s NGR 12920138. Grain already warehoused anywhere in Queensland can also be transferred to FOF in the same way. Every little bit helps.

Ex-farm grain collection can also be arranged by FOF, please contact us to discuss.

Graincorp Operations Manager Pat Sullivan said his company was happy to support the FOF campaign. “This country has very little prime farmland, we should preserve it for food production”, he said.

Encroachment by mining has to be moderated

2009-10-18T03:29:00.000-07:00

How come coal miners can establish in the middle of highly productive and closely settled farming communities on the Darling Downs? Coal mining at places such as the Felton Valley is contrary to the wishes of the resident community and against the best long term interests of the nation and the planet.

Friends of Felton have determined that there are more than 220 households located within 12 km of a proposed mine site. Potentially, all the occupants of these households would suffer mine-related externalities of some sort, without getting any compensation or offsetting benefits.

Clearly the market forces that currently allow miners to enter and establish in contravention of the greater good, are failing. Evidence of market failure is normally met by government intervention with the end result being regulations to correct the market failure. So why hasn’t there been any government intervention to protect the highly productive and closely settled communities of the Darling Downs and elsewhere? The blame on this occasion rests squarely with state governments as they control mining approval processes and issue the operating licenses. The fact that state governments also collect royalties from mining goes a long way towards explaining the root cause of their inaction.

So what should happen? Good governance demands urgent reform through some combination of the following.

1. Broad-scale land use planning that takes into account all relevant issues including history, demographics, existing development status, water, agricultural productivity and community aspirations. This reform would bring about balance between agriculture and mining and in the process give absolute protection to particular farming communities.

2. Vest the licensing of all new mines with a single national body, operating independently of any government department. Apart from severing the link between licensing and royalties, this reform would reduce duplication and make it possible for Australia to deliver a meaningful ETS.

3. Require the impact assessment process to include quantification of key performance indicators applying to affected precincts (such as household density, productive capacity of the ecosystem and qualities of the natural environment). Beyond some aggregate score, the site’s ‘performance’ would cause the mining proposal to be rejected outright and progression to mitigation strategies would not be attempted.

Making the EIS process more objective and subject to the possibility of outright failure would go a long way towards increasing public confidence in the assessment process.

A Council with Courage

2009-10-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our neighbouring Local Council for taking a stand to protect the environment, local residents, and vegetable growers.

Powerstation proposal rejected
Kate Stark 14th October 2009
Gatton Star
Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve Jones with local residents. Picture: Toowoomba Chronicle

THE Lockyer Valley Regional Council has refused the proposal by Parson Brinckerhoff Australia Pty Ltd to build a gas fired peaking power station on Mulgowie Road, Laidley South.During the ordinary meeting of council, held yesterday, LVRC unanimously agreed that the proposal could not be justified and would not bring a positive change to the area.Rejecting the proposal on the basis that the station did not comply with the Desired Environmental Outcomes for the area, particularly highlighting the effect it may have on the air quality.Also outlined by council was the economic impact it would have on vegetable producers on adjacent properties and the general aesthetic value of the scenic areas.Lockyer Mayor Steve Jones said the acceptance of the officer's recommendation to refuse the power station was a victory for people power."I would always encourage people, if they're passionate about something, to do their homework," Mayor Jones said."If you've got a real conviction, don't be afraid to stand up."I understand that there is an ongoing need for power but we need to determine what's in it for us."Deputy Mayor Graham Moon said while he wasn't against the idea of a power station, the proposed sight at Mulgowie was unacceptable."We have one of the prettiest valleys in the Lockyer," Cr Moon said, adding he would hate to see it negatively affected by the construction.

Toowoomba Chronicle report here

No mining without planning

2009-10-13T23:34:00.000-07:00

Friends of Felton met yesterday with Toowoomba Regional Council and requested:

Public support for a halt to all new mining development within the Toowoomba Region, until comprehensive land use planning has been undertaken which considers protection for prime farmland, areas of high environmental importance and closely settled areas.

Ambre Energy has applied for a Mining Lease at Felton. A number of other companies have identified coal deposits in areas such as Wyreema, Hodgson Vale, Wellcamp, and Pittsworth.

Spokesman Rob McCreath said “The Toowoomba Region as we know it is under threat from mining. Toowoomba Regional Council must speak up to safeguard our farmland, the environment, and local communities. How can Toowoomba be the Garden City if mines take all the water? How can Toowoomba be Australia’s Tidy Town if everything’s covered in coal dust?”

Toowoomba Regional Council is in the process of developing a new Planning Scheme with the following objective:

“Council’s principal goal is to protect and enhance the amenity of all land uses while retaining the special character of local communities.” (TRC Quarterly Winter 09)

We feel our request fits very well with Council policy. We look forward to their response.

Toowoomba Chronicle report 19th October: 'Council Urged to Speak Up'

Senate Inquiry submissions keep rolling in

2009-10-13T23:28:00.000-07:00

The Senate Inquiry into the impacts of mining in the Murray Darling Basin has now received over 70 submissions, including one from Friends of Felton.

Read them all here

Transcripts are available for the hearings in Oakey and Gunnedah here

Senate hearing in Oakey 29th Sept 09

2009-09-30T04:12:00.000-07:00

From left: Senator Scott Ludlam, Senator Anne McEwen, Committee Secretary Ian Holland, Senator Simon Birmingham, Senator John Williams.

Friends of Felton reps Rob McCreath, Vicki Green, and Ian Whan appear before the committee.

Friends of Felton members were out in force to welcome the committee to Oakey.

FOF supporters packed the public gallery.

Part of the FOF display of local produce outside the meeting venue.

Felton's younger generation with a wheelbarrow of locally grown food.

Media reports on the Senate hearing are available here (ABC), here (The Age) , here (Toowoomba Chronicle) , here (Crikey.com)

ABC TV Stateline report and transcipt are available here

Senate Committee visits Felton

2009-09-30T03:34:00.000-07:00

The Senate Inquiry into the impacts of mining in the Murray Darling Basin came to Felton yesterday. Four senators came from the Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts: Sen Simon Birmingham - LP, SA, chair; Sen Anne McEwen -ALP, SA, deputy chair; Sen Scott Ludlam - Aust Greens; Sen John Williams - NATS, NSW.

The large crowd of FOF members appreciated the opportunity to inform the committee of the proposed layout for Ambre Energy's so-called Felton 'Clean Coal' Project. They pointed out the quality of the surrounding farmland, the proximity to Hodgson Creek, the importance of the nearby hills as recharge areas for underground aquifers, and the number of people that live in the area.

After visiting the Felton Valley, the committee toured the Acland area, viewing the devastation caused by the New Acland open-cut coal mine, and visiting the ghost town of Acland - itself under threat from the expanding mine.

Watch a video of the senators visit here from Qld Country Life.

Friends of Felton supports Toowoomba's 60th Carnival of Flowers

2009-09-19T23:10:00.000-07:00

Friends of Felton once again entered a float in Toowoomba's Carnival of Flowers parade. This years event was the 60th, and drew a huge crowd of 100,000 spectators. Our float showcased the variety of food produced in the Felton Valley, and also carried a windmill and solar panel, to represent our interest in renewable energy as an alternative to coal development.

Our float was preceded by a group of Felton youngsters from 3 families that have been in the area for up to 6 generations.

Cakes against Coal

2009-09-14T02:42:00.000-07:00

Friends of Felton organised a very successful cake stall in Pittsworth on Friday. We are raising funds to employ professional consultants to prepare our case against Ambre Energy’s Mining Lease application at Felton.

Organiser Andrea Sullivan said the local community had been very supportive. “It was a great opportunity for us to earn some money, and at the same time inform the people of Pittsworth of the serious consequences for the town and surrounding area if mining is allowed to go ahead at Felton. It would open the floodgates to more mining all around Pittsworth. We’ve seen what’s happened to Acland and we don’t want that to be repeated here” she said.

The cake stall raised $700. The raffle was won by the Free family. Friends of Felton have many more activities planned, including a float in the Toowoomba Carnival Of Flowers parade, a night at Toowoomba Rep Theatre on 26th Sept, and a Race Day at Clifford Park, Toowoomba, on 24th October. Enquiries and tickets - friendsoffelton@live.com

We must learn from the Hunter Valley experience

2009-08-30T04:24:00.000-07:00

Renewable Energy as an alternative to Coal Development

2009-08-30T03:58:00.000-07:00

We know we cannot co-exist with coal mines, petrochemical plants and power stations. On the other hand we CAN co-exist with renewable energy, which would preserve our precious farmland, protect our environment, and safeguard our community.

To that end, FOF invited Trevor Berrill to come to Felton to look at the renewable energy potential. Trevor is one of Queensland's most respected Sustainable Energy Systems consultants.

After touring the Felton area on Saturday morning, Trevor gave a fascinating talk to around 60 people at Cambooya Bowls Club in the evening. Some of the key points are detailed below.

Trevor Berrill. Presentation - Cambooya 29 Aug 09
Only Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency provide immediate CO2 Reductions

We have RE & EE technologies now. We know how to use RE & EE, and it doesn’t cost the earth. Failing to use it may.

Current energy pathway is unsustainable –business as usual is no longer an option.

Costs of greenhouse response NOW will be small: about 1% of annual global GDP by 2050 (ref Stern).

Current World Energy Supply
Non renewable: 91%
Renewable: 9%

Global Renewable Energy Resource
15,000 x Current Energy Use

Solar Power
Qld Resource: MASSIVE
Require < 23 x 23 km to meet all current Qld electricity demand.

WindPower
Qld Resource - 10TWh/yr at <10c/kWh = 20% current demand (CSIRO 2007).

“Clean” Coal
• Oxymoron - inherently ‘dirty fuel’
• Pollution – costly
• Limited resource life
• Inefficient conversion
• Nimbyism
• 1000 yrs Waste Disposal and Storage problems– beyond civilisations
• Future hidden & external costs

There is NO clean coal technology available NOW

Energy Efficiency
Transport: Of the fuel used by a car, 80% heats the engine, 19% moves the weight of the car, 1% moves the weight of the driver.

Lighting: An incandescent lightbulb powered by electricity from a coal-fired power station uses only 2% of the energy in the coal. 98% is lost.

Direct Local Jobs per Unit of Electricity Generated
Coal electricity + coal mining - 1job.
Wind power with 50% Australian content 2–3 jobs(ref Diesendorf).

Strong Sustainable Energy Policy for Qld
• Set a 40% renewable energy target by 2020.

• Set a target of a 10 percent annual reduction in energy consumption to 2020.

• Undertake energy, material waste and water audits of all homes and businesses.

• Remove market barriers to the uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

• Apply Polluter Pays Principle - Stop subsidising the fossil fuel industry.

• Ensure that all new developments apply best practice environmental design.

• Provide rebates for retrofitting existing homes with Sustainable Energy and efficient water technologies.

Erin Brockovich to Felton: Don't give up!

2009-08-19T04:16:00.000-07:00

Anthea Gleeson. Toowoomba Chronicle | 19th August 2009

CHAMPION legal activist Erin Brockovich offers this piece of advice for Felton farmers whose livelihoods are under threat: Don’t give up.

Ms Brockovich was in the Lockyer Valley yesterday to officially open a new legal residential training facility.

The blonde advocate didn’t mince words when talking about big businesses conducting deals that compromise the health and integrity of communities.

“We don’t want our corporate neighbours to pollute our environment, but more often than not that is what happens,” Ms Brockovich said.

“The community needs to turn their anger and passion and heated arguments into a connection.

“They need to work with the industry to find a way not to have (the mine) here.”

Ms Brockovich was immortalised by Julia Roberts in the film, Erin Brockovich.

The film told the story of Hinkley townspeople who were being poisoned by a chemical that leached into their water supply.

Tony Moore, Brisbane Times
August 16, 2009 - 4:24PM

Environmental fighter Erin Brockovich told a host of Brisbane media this morning that government environmental agencies needed extra funding for independent research so they do not have to rely on "industry" research.

Ms Brockovich said she still had no faith in government environmental agencies protection of the public, describing the organisations as underfunded, understaffed and with the potential for bias.

"I would like to have faith in them, but I have to be honest with you and tell you that I don't ," she said.

"I am certainly frustrated with the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) currently in the United States of America, " she said.

Ms Brockovich said her experience with government agencies suggested "science lags behind the law" and the people affected come a distant third because well-meaning employees could not provide unbiased advice.

"They are understaffed, they are underfunded, and they can often can rely only on the science that industry is giving them because in the absence of having any funding themselves to be able to get out there and have a look at the situation, more often than not their hands are tied," she said.

"So I would like to see our governmental bodies providing more funding and more staff and more scientists to these agencies so we can get a fair assessment of what is happening."

"A fair assessment. You know, science lags behind the law more often that not.

"And with no funding they have to rely on the information that industry scientists have given them.

"And that is not always a fair assessment of what is happening to a population."

Friends of Felton support act for Graham Brown in Brisbane

2009-08-17T03:16:00.000-07:00

Who's Graham Brown? Here's an article from the Sydney Morning Herald in April -

Mining stalwart sees no future in carbon plan
Paddy Manning, Sustainable Investing
SMH Business
April 25, 2009

Kevin Rudd should meet Graham Brown before he decides to spend billions of dollars on carbon capture and storage. A coalminer for more than 20 years, Brown retired in 2007 and is happy to call a spade a bloody shovel.

Brown, 57, has his own theory on why good money is being wasted on a technology very few have faith in.

Brown, from the Hunter Valley, originally worked in the construction industry, in open-cut and underground coalmines, including for Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.

He is a staunch unionist but does not toe the corporate line on CCS parroted by officials from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.

Brown's main motivation is to see his former colleagues retrained to be able to exit a fading coal industry. He joined the NSW Greens after meeting state MP Lee Rhiannon, who said the party's policy was to make the transition to a clean energy economy with no job losses.

Brown is not a politician and does not want to be one. But he is active locally and takes any opportunity to speak on the transition away from coal.

Last year he took part in a Greenpeace blockade of the Eraring power station, and attracted media attention as one of a handful of miners sympathetic to the action.

"I'm not the only one in the mining industry," Brown says. "There's quite a few and they're coming on board all the time. The blokes in the industry, they're fully aware that there's a problem with burning the coal. They're interested in where they fit into the situation."

Brown is not funded by anyone. He gets a kick out of putting some of the retirement savings he earned from mining back into the cause.

I saw Brown speak at a climate change rally in Sydney in November and was struck by his denunciation of CCS. He says most people working at the coalface know CCS is "just not do-able".

"In the beginning there wasn't a lot of view either way on it but now, because it's been going so long, a lot of the blokes are up to speed on it and they are fully aware that it's nonsense. It's never going to get off the ground. The technology's so expensive that it's not going to be economical."

The main problem is the sheer volume of carbon dioxide that needs to be captured and stored. It is hard to visualise. Brown explains it this way: for every tonne of coal burnt there is 2.5 to 2.7 tonnes of CO2 to store. How big is a tonne of CO2? About 500 cubic metres, as a gas at sea level at room temperature.

Now say coal-fired power stations in Australia emit 100 million tonnes of CO2 each year. The Government hopes CCS will trap 20 per cent of those emissions. If the gas is compressed 500 times, that is about 20 million tonnes a year.

Transporting 20 million tonnes of highly compressed gas is no mean feat. "Look at the infrastructure that needs to be in place to get 80 million tonnes of coal to port," says Brown. "Moving gas is a different kettle of fish to moving coal, I can tell you, because it's got to be stored in an intrinsically safe way - either pipe or trucks or trains".

Where to put it all? Brown says there is really only one place where significant volumes of CO2 can be stored - the Cooper Basin in South Australia, where Santos recently shelved a $700 million CCS project. If that project were revived, Brown says it has been calculated that we would need a B-double lorry carrying six tonnes of CO2 leaving NSW for the Cooper Basin every 20 seconds to store 20 per cent of emissions from the state's power industry.

Then there is the problem of getting the stored CO2 into the ground or, even harder, beneath the sea floor. "You really need a mining industry to get it into the ground," says Brown. "And that's going to create more CO2."

There is also the risk of leakage, made worse by the increase in underground temperatures. "You're talking about a lot of pressure, and there's heaps of cracks. It's only got to come out through a slow leak and it's all for nothing.

"The second you put it into the ground, the more it will expand. If you're going to put it a kilometre underground where the temperature might be 65 degrees Centigrade, it's going to expand a monstrous amount. And that in itself will be the big mechanism where the rocks will crack.

"They can put it in there but whether it will stay there is another thing. I've pointed that out - others have too - and it's not long before people start nodding their head and laughing because they understand that it's not possible."

Brown says CCS is a no-brainer. "It just doesn't cut the ice any more. Most people know that it's a furphy." Brown says the coal companies know it too and until late last year, put little of their money into CCS. "They're not wasting money on it. They're just taking what they can from the Federal Government, and saying 'thank you very much'."

Their main interest is in ramping up extraction of coal-seam gas, Brown says. "Any kind of drilling technology that will be used to try and get this gas down, is also going to be reversed, to be able to be used to mine the carbon qualities of the coal in situ.

"They're having the taxpayer supply a lot of money for that research. They should be doing it themselves. They're going to piggyback on all this carbon capture and storage stuff and they will use that technology for their own benefit.

"It's not a matter of being solely for that but the coal companies already know that research needs to be done to get the gas out, and they will certainly use it if it's available. They might be greedy and they might have deep pockets, but they're not stupid."

For Brown, it means more job losses down the track. "If they can get the methane out of the coal seams, or convert the gas to hydrogen, without having to mine the coal, they'll use that gas and will hardly have to employ anyone."

What really annoys Brown is the attitude of officials at the CFMEU, in particular general president of the mining and energy division, Tony Maher.

He has lined up with coal companies and is backing CCS rather than focusing on retraining workers to get jobs in the green-collar economy.

"Tony Maher made some statements in Newcastle two years ago. I've got them on tape. In a submission to Newcastle council, he called the transition away from the coal industry to anything else the 'geriatric solution'. He made a statement we are by and large too old, and our skill base from the start is too low, to be trained in anything else, insinuating that we should stay in the coal industry because that's all we're good for.

"I played that tape to some of the blokes at work and I can tell you they weren't real happy with Tony, basically calling them untrainable boneheads.

"They didn't like it at all .. We can be trained in anything. Who do you think maintains the equipment in the mining industry? Doesn't he know that a lot of the truck drivers and plant operators are actually some sort of a tradesman? We definitely have the skills base.

"And who does he think is going to do the work in the renewable energy industry, and other industries as well, because statistics in Europe - and a study by Greenpeace on the Central Coast of NSW - show that there's six times more jobs in the transition away from coal than there is in it.

"I think we should be gunning for it. We definitely have the skills and he didn't do a very good service to his members. I don't see why miners should be thrown on the scrap heap by a bloody coal company. There should be a mechanism to let them flow on to other jobs."

Media coverage of Barnaby Joyce visit

2009-08-17T00:52:00.000-07:00

There's a video here of Barnaby Joyce's visit to Felton on 8th August.

There are media reports on the visit here
and here.

Barnaby Joyce gives his word to Felton

2009-08-08T21:17:00.000-07:00

Senator Barnaby Joyce visited Felton on Saturday to meet with Friends of Felton.
To rapturous applause, Senator Joyce gave the commitment that he would do whatever he could to stop coal mining development proceeding at Felton.

"There is only two per cent of prime agricultural land in Australia and we should not be mining it. There is an abundance of land that has coal underneath it. The state government may lose seats at the next election if they allow this to be mined. It would be criminal to turn this region into another Hunter Valley." Senator Joyce said.

He said state governments issued mining leases for the sake of raising capital and before the farmers knew it, their land was being sought for mining.

"We must protect this land so we have the capacity to feed ourselves in the future," Senator Joyce said. "The debate has started about whether this area should be mined and now we are raising the profile. Ms Bligh, in this current politically sensitive climate, does not want to do anything else wrong so we think she will listen."

Senator Joyce promised Friends of Felton that he would arrange for the ongoing Senate Inquiry into Food Security to have a hearing at Felton.

"The Senators on that committee need to come to Felton to appreciate the importance of this issue in the national context" Senator Joyce said.

Senator Joyce assisted the children of Felton to launch 300 helium balloons printed with "No Mines on Darling Downs - our foodbowl". The biodegradable balloons were designed to represent coal dust and pollution from the proposed coal development, and were tagged with a phone number for the chance to win a prize. Friends of Felton will track the progress of the balloons to see how far they go.

Ambre Energy paid to dine with the Premier

2009-08-06T04:05:00.000-07:00

Article from today's Toowomba Chronicle -

Dinner with Premier angers Felton farmers
By Jim Campbell
6th August 2009

Photo:Kevin Farmer

FELTON farmers were outraged yesterday after they learnt that mining company Ambre Energy took part in a pay-per-view business dinner with Premier Anna Bligh in December last year.

Ambre Energy is proposing to build an open-cut coal mine and petrochemical plant in the Felton Valley, 20 minutes south of Toowoomba.

It has been revealed the company paid an unknown amount of money to be part of the exclusive dinner in December.

Representatives from Surat Basin mining company Linc Energy were also at the dinner.

Friends of Felton spokesman Rob McCreath yesterday described the arrangement as "disgraceful" and "undemocratic".

"How can we possibly have a fair and balanced judgement here when the company that is proposing the project is paying money to have dinner with the Premier?"

"The whole thing stinks," Mr McCreath said.

"We’re a community group, we don’t have a lot of money and we’re up against these big companies with lots of dollars."

Mr McCreath said Friends of Felton was currently raising money to employ professionals to contribute to their submission to Ambre Energy’s Environmental Impact Statement.

"The question of access is core to all of this," Mr McCreath said.

Ambre Energy director of business development Michael van Baarle said he paid money to attend the Labor Party dinner which he said was a fund-raiser for Member for Ipswich West Wayne Wendt.

Mr van Baarle said he went to school with Mr Wendt in Ipswich and wanted to support him.

He said the Premier was at the dinner, but he did not have a conversation with her.

He said Ambre Energy representatives had never paid money for direct access to Ministers.

Ms Bligh said this week she was banning her Ministers and State MPs from attending these types of functions and has challenged Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek to do the same.

.

Anti social project

2009-08-05T04:05:00.000-07:00

80 people packed the Felton Hall last night for a meeting on the social impact of the so-called Felton Clean Coal Project with Ambre Energy and their supposedly 'independent' consultants Worley Parsons. Ambre kicked things off with an update on their plans. Under questioning from the floor, a few gems emerged. Having mentioned waste water from Toowoomba as a possible source of water, Ambre were force to admit they had no arrangement with Toowoomba Regional Council, nor were they in negotiations. Having mentioned social benefits from the project, Ambre were asked what they might be. They replied that the project would bring 'a different type of people' into the area.

Ambre were questioned about the impact of their project on water bores in the surrounding area, and what would happen if they dried up. They spoke of 'make good' agreements to supply water if this happened. They gave no details of the practicalities of this suggestion, given there are hundreds of shallow bores in the area.

An element of farce was introduced to proceedings when the facilitator of the Ambre Energy Community Liason Group attempted to explain why the identity of the members of the liason group was confidential.

Worley Parsons took the floor to survey the group on our social impact concerns.This was a most unsatisfactory process for all present, as Ambre fielded most of the questions. The meeting was alarmed to learn that the speaker from Worley Parsons was an expert in 'resettlement'. When questioned, he refused to rule out resettlement at Felton.

The following statement was read out on behalf of FOF, the document was passed around for signatures and handed to Worley Parsons as a formal statement of Friends of Felton's position -

FOF is implacably opposed to the project and find any mitigation strategies to be totally and absolutely unacceptable. FOF considers Ambre’s proposal to be environmentally and socially unacceptable and will not rest until it is formally rejected by the QLD government.

Agforce stands up for Felton

2009-07-24T22:54:00.000-07:00

Agforce Vice President Ian Burnett (centre above), and Senior Policy Advisor Drew Wagner (2nd right) visited Felton on Wednesday to meet with Friends of Felton, and listen to the community's concerns about proposed coal mining developments - in particular Ambre Energy's so-called Felton 'Clean Coal' Project which is the subject of a mining lease application. Ambre Energy is currently preparing an EIS for this project. Attention also focussed on the neighbouring MDL 304, covering some 13,000ha, granted to Newmont Pacific Energy, which includes a large area of prime cropping land.

The point was made that Felton is a test case, being the furthest advanced project to threaten prime agricultural land. Friends of Felton also stressed the inevitable environmental impacts resulting from open-cut mining next to Hodgson Creek, a major tributary of the Condamine River, and in natural recharge areas for underground aquifers. Members of the community highlighted the social consequences of mining in such a closely settled area, and referred to the experience of the Acland community north of Oakey.

Drew Wagner, explained that Agforce has been working hard behind the scenes with the Qld Government on the issue of protecting farmland, and he hoped to see results from that process before too long. FOF members stressed the urgency of the Felton issue, given that Ambre say their EIS will be completed early next year.

A meeting of Agforce Pittsworth Branch was held in the afternoon. The following resolutions were passed unanimously -

1. 'That Agforce acknowledges the devastating effect coal mining development would have on the food production capacity, the natural environment, the watercourses and underground aquifers, and the community of Felton, and does everything in its power to ensure such development does not proceed.'

2. 'That Agforce demands the Queensland Government introduce a moratorium on new mining and gas operations on land suitable for cropping, on land closely associated with rivers and groundwater aquifers, and in closely settled rural areas, until comprehensive land use planning has been undertaken which considers the impact of such operations on agriculture, the natural environment and local communities.'

3. 'That Agforce involve representatives of communities affected by mining in developing a definition of agricultural land worthy of protection from mining development.'

Report below from The Brisbane Times -

Agforce beefs up farmers' fight against coal mines
July 23, 2009

Peak agricultural lobby group Agforce has backed Queensland farmers who are battling coal miners planning to dig up their prime agricultural farmland.
Two mining companies are preparing to mine coal worth billions of dollars which lies just under the surface of the fertile Felton Valley, 40 km south of Toowoomba on the Darling Downs and at the headwaters of the Murray-Darling Basin.

Agforce vice-president Ian Burnett toured the site on Wednesday where a hill will be removed to make way for an open-cut coal mine, which will extract 900 million tons of coal to supply an on-site petro-chemical plant.
Agforce's backing is significant because the broadacre farming group is defending smaller horticultural farmers against large mining interests.
Mr Burnett said mining would risk destroying the underground water aquifers, the closely-settled farming community and the food production of the valley.
"It's certainly good quality prime agricultural land," Mr Burnett told AAP.
"Closely-settled areas haven't been mined before.
"We will try to stop mining here. I believe it could be the opportunity to set a precedent and say 'no' to coal mining," he said.

Mining exploration permits now cover 80 per cent of the state following a 45 per cent increase in mining exploration permits.
Felton Valley spokesman Rob McCreath said Felton was a test case which would determine whether the Queensland Government could find a balance between farming and mining.
"Knowing the Queensland Government has never prevented a mine in order to protect farmland makes us more determined to win this fight," he said.
"The Premier herself has said there has got to be a balance between mining and agriculture.
"How can there be a balance if no mine has ever been stopped?"
Mr McReath said approval for the mine would set a precedent that mining will be allowed anywhere.
He said Australia had little fertile farming land and it was now urgent that it be protected for food production.
Premier Anna Bligh has been invited to tour the district but has not taken up the invitation yet.
"There's an open invitation. I really hope she comes. We'd love to show her around," Mr McCreath said.
AAP

Top Secret Community Liason Group

2009-07-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

Ambre Energy's community liason process for its so-called Felton 'Clean Coal' Project has been exposed as a farce. A community liason group (CLG) was established by the company last month, and the first meeting was held on 11th June.

Amazingly enough, Ambre Energy has refused to tell Friends of Felton who the members of the CLG are, saying it had been decided to keep this information confidential!

Here's a section from Ambre Energy's own Terms of Reference for their CLG -

AmbreEnergy has started a consultative process with relevant interested parties. A key aspect of this process is discussions with landowners and community members directly affected by the Project to identify any areas of concern. This process will continue and includes identification of all stakeholders, discussion with Local, State and Federal Government representatives, communication plans and consultation and negotiation on measures required to address compliance and community concerns.

AmbreEnergy will establish a Community Liaison Group (CLG)in 2009 as part of this consultation program. The CLG will provide a forum for discussion and exchange of views and information of relevance to the project.

The CLG will operate as part of an open and structured community consultation process. Information will be exchanged that will directly contribute to the EIS and aid AmbreEnergy’s understanding of the community and the potential impact the project.

How can this be an "open and structured community consultation process" if they won't tell the community who's on the CLG?

Statement from Anglican, Catholic, and Uniting Churches

2009-07-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

A Statement of Concern Regarding Mining and Agriculture on the Darling Downs

The local leadership of the Anglican, Catholic and Uniting Churches on the Darling Downs have great concerns about the impact of some proposed mining activity on prime agricultural land. They support calls for a regional plan that would identify areas which could be mined and others which should be kept for sustainable agriculture and food production. Two areas in the region currently under consideration for coal mining are Felton and Haystack Plain.

Caring for creation is a strong part of the three Christian traditions. We believe that we are called to be wise stewards of the earth. In terms of our fragile planet we are facing an ecological crisis. Respect for nature and ecological responsibility are key parts of our faith.

Transformation to wise and sustainable use of the environment is at heart a spiritual matter. Environmental concern is a legitimate and necessary part of a Christian's response to God's loving provision for us. (Green by Grace A Report prepared for the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia 2004)
Experience shows that disregard for the environment always harms human coexistence, and vice versa. It becomes more and more evident that there is an inseparable link between peace with creation and peace. (Message of his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the celebration of the World Day of Peace 1 January 2007)
We are concerned with the basic human rights of future generations and will urge the wise use of energy, the protection of the environment and the replenishment of the earth’s resources for their use and enjoyment. (Uniting Church, Statement to the Nation, 1977)

As communities of faith we stand in solidarity with those farmers who fear for their security and future way of life at this time. We also understand the contribution of mining and the generation of electricity in our region. We have a particular perspective on development which centres on the human person, the family and the community. When we consider future planning or development our primary question would be, “What is happening to the people?” rather than “What is happening to the economy?”

With the current world food shortage we believe it is important to protect land that has a history of sustainable food production. With a growing understanding about the impact of climate change we would also urge the Queensland State government to consider alternatives to coal mining in the Felton and Haystack Plain districts. These alternatives should be more sustainable and contribute more to the local community and economy.

We have concerns that the proposed coal mines will have an irreversible damaging impact on the soil and people of Haystack Plains and Felton. We would urge respectful and genuine dialogue between the resources and agricultural sector. For generations farmers in the Felton and Haystack Plains district have produced food for the wider Australian and international community. They have adapted their practises to ensure that future families can also live from and with the land. Our hope is that decisions made on the future use of these areas are based on the common good of all humanity.

Bishop Rob Nolan (Bishop of the Western Region, Anglican Diocese of Brisbane)

Bishop William Morris (Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba)

Sharon Kirk (Presbytery Minister Uniting Church in Australia Downs Presbytery)

Friends of Felton wins Carbon Challenge!

2009-06-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Friends of Felton team who won their section of the Upper Condamine Carbon Challenge. The competition was run as part of the Qld Government's Low Carbon Diet community funding project, which encourages individuals to reduce their greenhouse gas emmissions. Our team installed solar panels for electricity generation, changed lightbulbs, planted trees, and switched to more efficient household appliances & cars, amongst other things. Team Leader Janet Bishop said the group wanted to show that "we are committed to reducing the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. By taking the Carbon Challenge, we reduced the need for new coal based power sources such as the proposed project in the Felton Valley. We can change the way we live and use energy."

Windmills and solar panels instead of dirty “Clean Coal”

2009-06-22T00:36:00.000-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE 22nd June 2009

FRIENDS OF FELTON Inc.

Friends of Felton today welcomed the release of the Queensland Government’s Renewable Energy Plan and offered Felton as a potential renewable energy site providing the Government bans coal mining development in the area.

The Felton Valley, 30km southwest of Toowoomba, is under threat from a proposal by Ambre Energy to build a 12.8 million t/yr open-cut coal mine, a petrochemical plant to convert the coal into liquid fuel, and a power station.

Spokesman Rob McCreath said “We know that the so-called ‘Felton Clean Coal Project’ would destroy and contaminate a large area of prime farmland with disastrous consequences for the environment and the local community with no net gain in employment. On the other hand, renewable energy production would co-exist easily with top quality food production and provide a net gain in employment without harming the environment or the community.”

Premier Anna Bligh said yesterday that “climate change is one of the great challenges of our age”.

Friends of Felton stands ready to play its part in meeting that challenge.

ENDS
www.friendsoffelton.blogspot.com

Call an ambulance

2009-06-06T22:35:00.000-07:00

Minister for Mines, Energy, and Natural Resources, Stephen Robertson, declined an invitation to take part in a discussion with FOF President Rob McCreath on Agriculture v Mining on ABC 612 Brisbane last Thursday night. This discussion was a follow-up to a programme on Monday evening, involving John Cotter, Agforce President, and Michael Roche, Chief Executive of Qld Resources Council. Recordings of both discussions can be heard here -
http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2009/06/agriculture-v-m.html?program=612_evenings

Incidentally, if you listen to the recording you will hear Michael Roche say "the farmers at Felton are selling". This is very misleading. The truth is that Ambre Energy has bought 1 farm of 96ha. The area covered by Ambre's proposed project is approx 2800ha, and the first stage covers 355ha. Besides, according to the law, ownership of the land does not in any way influence the granting of a Mining Lease. It's a pity the Minister wasn't there on Thursday night to put the record straight.

If he had been there, no doubt he'd have brought out the Govt's favourite line -

"Agriculture and mining have co-existed for over 100 years, and there's no reason why they can't continue to co-exist".

The fact is that coal mining destroys farmland, pollutes rivers, and drains underground aquifers. When the coal is burned, it produces greenhouse gases which accelerate global warming, giving us more frequent and severe droughts.

Mining co-exists with agriculture as cancer lives in the body, not noticed at first, but gradually eating away until the vital organs are threatened. It's time to call an ambulance!

Nobody's fooled

2009-05-21T04:16:00.000-07:00

Readers of the Initial Advice Statement (Dec 08) in Ambre Energy's mining lease application for the so-called Felton "Clean Coal Demonstration Project" may be under the impression that Ambre plans to build a much smaller plant at Felton than the 12.8 million tonnes/year monster they originally proposed. Indeed, page 3 has the following statement -

"The mine will be developed in two stages; the initial stage will involve the extraction of 800,000 tpa with the second stage expanding to 3.8 Mtpa."

Read the whole thing here - http://www.ambreenergy.com/_uploads/22256IAS.pdf

It seems Ambre have one story for the EPA and Felton locals, and another for potential investors. Have a look at the program for a briefing given by Ambre Energy to the Mining & Energy Services Council of Australia in Brisbane last week -

BRISBANE BRIEFING
Thursday 14 May 2009
Ambre Energy - Felton Mine and Dimethyl Ether Pilot Plant Project
Speaker: Steve Messiter – Director Project Development, Ambre Energy
Ambre Energy Limited is proposing to build and operate a world-class clean coal gasification plant near Felton,
approximately 30km south west of Toowoomba and 10km south east of Pittsworth producing a hydrogen-rich
synthesis gas for the following purposes:
· Production of 2.8 million tonnes per year of dimethyl ether (DME);
· Generation of 650 MW of electricity using an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) system.
The initial phase of the project will be a Demonstration Stage (scheduled for commissioning in 2011) involving
an 800,000 tonnes per year coal mine and a coal gasifier capable of producing 1,980 tonnes per day of a
hydrogen-rich syngas.
At final stage the open cut coal mine will provide 12.8 million tonnes of coal per year to the gasification plant.
The Project will also capture CO2 (1,339 tonnes per day at demonstration stage) for potential enhanced oil
recovery and geosequestration, produce by-products such as nitrogen for fertilizer production, and provide the
essential inputs for potential downstream olefins/plastics manufacturing facilities.
MESCA is Your Mining & Energy Industry Network
Program
3:45pm Registration
4:10pm Welcoming Address
4:20pm Major Sponsor’s Presentation
4:30pm Steve Messiter
Director Project Development , Ambre Energy
5:15pm Networking and refreshments
Details
Date: Thursday 14 May 2009
Venue: Hillstone St Lucia (St Lucia Golf Course)
Carawa St, St Lucia
Parking: Free onsite
Cost: MESCA Members $44.00 (inc GST)
$88.00 (2-4 Members) (inc GST)
Non Members $176.00 per person

Unfortunately, Friends of Felton couldn't afford the entry fee, but our spy behind the bar tells us the grand plan is little changed from Ambre's Initial Advice Statement (July08), available here in 2 parts -

http://www.scribd.com/doc/10841606/Ambre-Energy-Initial-Advice-Statement-2872008-Part-1

http://www.scribd.com/doc/10841900/Ambre-Energy-Initial-Advice-Statement-2872008-Part-2

Readers might also be interested in this critique from Dr Philip Machanick, University of Qld -

http://www.scribd.com/doc/11685961/Ambre-Felton-2008-critique

Response from Mines Minister & Ambre Energy

2009-05-14T03:51:00.000-07:00

Farmers say coal will be royalty-free
Steve GrayMay 12, 2009
Approval of an open-cut coal mine on the Darling Downs would provide no financial benefit to Queensland taxpayers, say farmers whose land is threatened.
Farmers have legal advice indicating that Ambre Energy would not have to pay any royalties on the coal it intends to mine.
Ambre Energy plans to build a 12.8 million tonne a year open-cut coal mine, a petrochemical plant to convert the coal into liquid fuel, and a power station in the Felton Valley, 30km southwest of Toowoomba.
Local farmers and the community, who have formed the Friends of Felton, say the mine would destroy some of the finest agricultural land in Australia and have negative social and environmental impacts.
Spokesman Rob McCreath said the group had been advised that no royalties would be payable to the state, meaning the mine would have no direct economic benefit to taxpayers.
"Legal advice obtained by Friends of Felton indicates that royalties payable on any coal mined at Felton would not be payable to the Queensland government," Mr McCreath said.
He said a section of Queensland mining laws stated that "coal on or below the surface of the land is the property of the crown, except where that land was alienated in fee simple by the crown before 1 March, 1910".
"Farms at Felton were granted freehold title long before 1910," Mr McCreath said.
Asked if that was a correct interpretation of the law, Mines Minister Stephen Robertson said it was too early to discuss royalties.
"We first need to establish if there is going to be a mine at all before royalties are discussed," Mr Robertson said.
"All new mines must first meet the Queensland government's statutory requirements, particularly in relation to environmental standards, before any approval is granted.
"The public interest test will balance a range of considerations including environmental, economical and social impacts across the community."
Mr Robertson said the proposal would not go ahead unless it was in the best interests of the people of Queensland.
"Given the assessment process is still ongoing, it is far too early to make that decision."
Mr McCreath told AAP the project "clearly fails the public interest test".
A spokesman for Ambre Energy, Neil McGregor, said royalties would be paid on the coal, although in a small number of cases royalties could go to the landholder rather than the state.
"We won't know that until we investigate individual title documents," Mr McGregor said.
© 2009 AAP

Government would gain no royalties from a Felton coal mine

2009-05-12T03:26:00.000-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE 11th May 2009

Government would gain no royalties from a Felton coal mine

The Felton Valley, 30km southwest of Toowoomba, Qld, is under threat from a proposal by Ambre Energy to build a 12.8 million t/yr open-cut coal mine, a petrochemical plant to convert the coal into liquid fuel, and a power station.

Legal advice obtained by Friends of Felton indicates that royalties payable on any coal mined at Felton would not be payable to the Queensland Government.

Section 8 (2) (b) of the Qld Mineral & Resources Act 1989 states –
“Coal on or below the surface of the land is the property of the Crown except where that land was alienated in fee simple by the Crown before 1 March 1910……”

Farms at Felton were granted freehold title long before 1910.

Spokesman Rob McCreath said- “The so-called Felton Clean Coal Project would have disastrous environmental impacts, destroy some of this country’s best farmland, and inflict huge social impacts on a large rural population. Our legal advice shows that there is no royalty bonanza in this for the Government. The Ambre Energy proposal clearly fails the ‘Public Interest’ test, and would in fact channel huge wealth into the hands of a few shareholders without meeting the costs it would inflict on the public at large through permanent and widespread damage to the natural environment.”

Mining is a risky business

2009-04-28T22:30:00.000-07:00

Despite growing and widespread community opposition to large-scale mining on the Darling Downs, Queensland’s miners are continuing to act as if they have a natural right to anything of value lying beneath the earth’s surface. This confidence is totally at odds with the plethora of regulatory barriers and conditions that could potentially stop the establishment and operation of a new mine. In truth, the processes leading to entry into mining should be perceived by everyone as highly risky.

The main barrier currently standing in the way of a new mine getting established is its capacity to meet the Environmental Impact Study terms of reference. These days, the terms of reference for an EIS are meant to protect the public interest associated with large projects. In the case of a large scale mine, the public interest could be violated, to an unacceptable extent, in a number of ways including any one of the following:

Threats to local water supplies and quality
Destruction of amenity values
Threats of native flora and fauna
Creation of a large number of neighbours (as would happen in areas with high incumbent populations) that subsequently suffer economic, social and environmental impacts in the form of tremors, dust, noise, artificial light and dislocation
Threats to the quality of any near-by horticultural production
Inability to return rural lands to their original condition
Inability to offset collateral loss of rural production and jobs.

Given that a mining proposal could easily fail to satisfy the EIS terms of reference, state governments should be very cautious about the conditions under which they allow a would-be miner to explore for minerals and subject its plans to the EIS process. It should be made clear to the proponent, for example, that they are embarking on a risky undertaking and that all of the financial risk lies with them. Thus any pre-emptive investment in land and the cost of preparing and submitting the EIS are all at the proponent’s risk.

Where a mining proposal clearly contravenes the public interest it should be stopped before it goes to the EIS stage. This was recently done in the case of a proposed mine (near Proserpine) using the Mines and Energy Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (part 5). Thus it is possible for the government to save the proponent the cost of the EIS and in the process put a quick stop to the uncertainty surrounding irresponsible proposals. In the process the whole mining industry would be implicitly cautioned against the risk and futility of endeavouring to establish a mine that poses a demonstrative threat to the public interest.

Whether or not a prospective miner buys the land sitting on top of the mineral resource is not relevant to the application and findings of an EIS. Indeed the pre-emptive purchase of land by a prospective miner can only be explained in terms of locking in a ‘pre-emptive price’ or a stunt aimed at convincing authorities that they have made some sort of immutable commitment. The latter rationale is clearly misguided because if the EIS fails the land can be re-sold. Prospective miners could avoid this risk (ie, re-selling the land) by not buying any land until after the EIS is completed and an Environmental Authority granted.

The inherent risks surrounding establishment of a mine in Queensland could be made more apparent if responsibility for the licensing of new mines was handed over to an independent authority with no obvious reliance on the revenue flowing from royalties. In keeping with the trend in other areas of governance it would be appropriate for a national authority to take over responsibility for operational licensing of all large-scale mines. Making a national authority responsible for the licensing function would have the added advantage of allowing for more overt recognition of national obligations such as reducing greenhouse gases and adding to world-wide food security. Under this proposal, state EPAs would continue to manage EIS processes; only the review and final licensing function would be deferred to an independent national authority.

A friendly welcome for the Premier

2009-04-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

Friends of Felton supporters were out in force yesterday to greet Premier Anna Bligh at the Community Cabinet meeting at Highfields.

On arrival, Ms Bligh was presented with a gift by 5 of our younger members. The gift pack of soap was produced by Felton's own award-winning Amazing Soaps, who grow organic herbs at Felton.

FOF delegations had formal meetings with the Premier, and Ministers for:- Mines, Energy & Natural Resources; Climate Change & Sustainability; and Primary Industries & Fisheries.

The barbeque did a roaring trade. Many thanks to our sponsors: - Ashton's Butchery, Pittsworth (sausages); Storey Farms, Cambooya (shredded lettuce); Deb's Bakery, Toowoomba (bread); Anzac Avenue Smoko Shop (bread rolls).

State Government to bail out of clean coal project - Courier Mail

2009-04-23T04:36:00.000-07:00

By Craig Johnstone
April 23, 2009 12:00am

TENS of millions of dollars of taxpayer money is in jeopardy as the State Government considers walking away from its $125 million clean-coal project.

ZeroGen Pty Ltd - developed during the "Smart State" era - should be sold off or wound up, an independent review of Government bodies and authorities has found. The Weller Review said ZeroGen "has significant financial responsibilities in a highly technical, if not speculative, area". The Government will accept the recommendation.

ZeroGen, to which the Government has committed more than $100 million, plans to capture carbon dioxide emissions and bury them underground, a technology that has been hailed as the future of the coal industry. It had aimed to develop the world's first clean-coal power plant near Rockhampton by 2012.
But recent doubts have emerged about the project's viability because of the way it would be treated under the Rudd Government's proposed emissions trading scheme.
The State Government said it would investigate whether ZeroGen should be sold or wound up.

The State Government has placed great faith in clean-coal technology, saying it has the potential to cut up to 90 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from large-scale power generation.
In a statement, Energy Minister Stephen Robertson said the Government remained "committed to accelerating the deployment of low-emission coal technologies before 2020". "The future direction of ZeroGen will be determined by Government in consultation with industry partners," Mr Robertson said.

The project, a key plank of the Government's superseded Smart State strategy, was expected to generate up to 700 jobs during its construction phase and 125 jobs once it was operational.
The company is due to complete a feasibility study into the technology the end of the year.
In March last year, Premier Anna Bligh said that, although Zerogen was a government-initiated project, it needed other "substantial funding contributors".
She said while the coal industry and energy company Shell were strong supporters, it also needed Federal Government and private support.

Clean coal remains a faraway dream

2009-04-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

More bad news for Clean Coal -

Clean coal remains a faraway dream
Marian Wilkinson , Sydney Morning Herald
April 6, 2009
When the Academy Award-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen used their talents a few weeks ago to make an anti-ad ridiculing clean coal, industry lobbyists were not happy. When Robert Kennedy jnr branded clean coal in America "a dirty lie", and suggested some coal executives should face criminal charges, they got really upset. This state's most passionate coal advocate, the head of the NSW Minerals Council, Nikki Williams, reacts to Kennedy's name with a mix of outrage and sorrow.
But the coal industry and, more importantly, Australia's politicians, should come to grips with the reality that it is beginning to lose its social licence to operate in Western democracies. And the strategy of holding up clean coal as the Holy Grail for the industry's greenhouse problem is not working.
Australia is increasingly seen as the Saudi Arabia of coal - a leading exporter of a major greenhouse gas pollutant. Despite the present economic downturn, industry and government forecasts say our coal exports will keep rising in the next decades. The NSW Government is issuing new exploration licences like they were confetti, and the expansion of the Newcastle coal loader is a national and state priority.
All this flies in the face of the scientific forecasts delivered in Copenhagen last month. Unless there are rapid and sustained cuts in greenhouse emissions, the world will not avoid dangerous climate change.
High-profile figures such as the former US vice-president Al Gore, and a NASA climate scientist, James Hansen, advocate a moratorium on new coal plants in the US and Britain unless and until clean coal comes good. Similar public pressure is likely to come in Japan, our largest coal customer.
The irreconcilable gulf between our rising coal exports and the urgent need to cut emissions is answered too glibly with the assurance that clean coal will be up and running some time around 2020. From Barack Obama to Kevin Rudd, clean coal is pushed with unswerving conviction. The big Group of Eight leaders say they want 20 clean coal plants operating by 2020.
Yet at a NSW Minerals Council forum last week, CSIRO's chief of energy technology, David Brockway, explained bluntly that we are unlikely to see a commercial-scale clean coal plant operating within 15 years - or at least 2024.
Dr Brockway, like those close to this vexed problem in the industry, avoids the words "clean coal". The complex array of technologies to reduce carbon dioxide from coal generation plants, capture it, transport it and store it underground is known as "carbon capture and storage". Building a "demonstration" or "pilot" to capture and store a few thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide is being done. But getting rid of a million tonnes of carbon dioxide from electricity generators around the country every year, at an affordable cost, will be extremely difficult for us, let alone our export customers.
This month, the Rudd Government will, once again, ramp up its clean coal campaign when it announces the new head of the global carbon initiative in Canberra. But forgive a journalist a little cynicism. Last year, the media were lobbied heavily to promote a carbon storage project run by the gas company Santos that promised to bury 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year from gas and coal operations around the country. Last month, without a whimper, Santos suspended the project, apparently because it wasn't considered economically viable.
A joint Rio Tinto-BP carbon capture project in Western Australia, also lauded in the media, fell over last year. Around the same time, the world's leading clean coal experiment, FutureGen in America, collapsed after the Bush administration slashed its commitment to the billion-dollar project. FutureGen was a favourite of the Howard government, which pledged $15 million from Australian taxpayers along with a slice of industry funds.
A damning report on FutureGen prepared for a US congressional committee surfaced a few weeks ago. Based on scores of internal government emails and documents, it reveals that the Bush administration was never really committed to the project. FutureGen, the report says, was largely a public relations ploy for George Bush to make it appear that the US was "doing something" about global warming while refusing to ratify the Kyoto climate agreement.
There is no easy solution to the coal problem. Almost every energy minister around the world insists coal will remain a significant source of new electricity generation because of its low cost and plentiful supply. But at the very least, federal and state politicians should have the courage to prepare a plan B, in the event the alluring promise of clean coal does not eventuate.
Marian Wilkinson is the Herald's environment editor.

Scrap coal plan, says Rudd's man

2009-04-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

Article from Sydney Morning Herald -

Scrap coal plan, says Rudd's man
Matthew Moore, Urban Affairs Editor , Sydney Morning Herald
April 1, 2009

A MEMBER of the Rudd Government's group charged with rebuilding Australia's infrastructure says plans to double the coal export capacity in Newcastle should be abandoned.
Professor Peter Newman, who is a member of Infrastructure Australia, said the environmental damage done from burning coal meant the construction of new coal loading facilities in what is already the world's biggest coal exporting port should be stopped now.
"If I was in charge of coal loading facilities, I would say no, don't do it," Professor Newman said in an interview with the Herald.
Professor Newman also dismissed the Federal Government's $500 million commitment into researching clean coal technology, arguing there was little prospect the technology to capture and store carbon emissions would be developed sufficiently to make coal-fired power stations environmentally acceptable.
"I don't think the science on that is anywhere near that happening," he said. "In the US it's already disappearing … it's going to disappear along with nuclear fission."
Clean coal technology is one of the key pillars of the environment policies of Commonwealth and state Labor governments. While it has been criticised by environmentalists, Professor Newman's remarks dismissing its prospects are certain to embarrass these governments and the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese. Professor Newman is one of 11 members of the body Mr Albanese appointed last year to develop "a blueprint for unlocking infrastructure bottlenecks and modernising the nation's transport, water, energy and communications assets".
To boost coal exports Mr Rudd and Mr Albanese announced in December the Government would co-fund almost half of a $1.2 billion project with the private sector to expand Hunter Valley rail lines. Under the plan, six rail projects would help Newcastle double its coal exports within seven years.
Professor Newman predicted that while the coal industry would still be around in a decade, "there will be a painful transition" and "coal will be a declining export for Australia".

Wheelbarrow Diplomacy

2009-03-18T03:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-12T04:30:00.000-07:00

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.

Keep Coal out of our Salad Bowl

2009-02-25T02:32:00.000-08:00

Recent research by Friends of Felton has produced some staggering statistics on the scale of the booming horticulture industry on the Western outskirts of Toowoomba. Vegetable growers in the area from Felton through Cambooya to Wyreema have a combined annual turnover of over $23 million/year, and employ more than 340 people.

Every week, these farmers produce 750,000 lettuces, 65,000 cauliflowers, 60,000 bunches of celery, and 18,000 cabbages. Every year they produce 2000 tonnes of onions, and 500 tonnes of potatoes.

This district is ideally suited to horticulture, due to the ideal climate, quality of water and fertile soils. The Eastern Downs is seasonally out of phase with the Lockyer Valley and, therefore, can ensure continuity of supply to South-East Queensland markets.

If the Felton project is allowed to proceed, a number of other mining developments are waiting in the wings. In their Annual Report 2008, Ambre Energy describe coal deposits they have identified at Scrubby Mountain (Pittsworth), and Back Plains. New Hope Corporation, operators of New Acland mine, have earmarked coal deposits at Pittsworth, Mt Russell, and Wyreema (Directors Report July 2008).

Friends of Felton are committed to stopping the Felton project, and defending the Darling Downs from mining.

The truth begins to emerge

2009-01-31T20:55:00.000-08:00

Ambre Energy has released an Initial Advice Statement(IAS) for their proposed Felton coal-to-liquids & CO2 project. This coincides with the publication by the EPA of the draft Terms of Reference for the so-called "Felton Clean Coal Demonstration Project". For full details, including the opportunity to comment, go to www.epa.qld.gov.au/search?term=felton

This IAS is the 3rd from Ambre in 12 months, and is remarkable for its lack of detail. The 1st IAS (the Initial IAS), dated Feb 2008, ran to 33 pages. The 2nd, dated July 2008, has 45 pages, but the 3rd, dated December 2008, has only 16 pages.

Perhaps we should look elsewhere for the finer details. How about these snippets from www.coal.erisk.net (Nov 2008) -

Ambre Energy coal gasification converts 95pc of coals carbon into synthetic gas (CO + H2); but where to put the CO2?

Felton Locals were more than happy with the wider economic benefits - despite minor downsides - Jason Russell, Exploration Manager, Ambre Energy, told Gas Week.(What planet does he live on???) Ambre Energy - which planned to list in 2009 - would make money with its planned new coal mine but it would also make dust, huge piles of coal-ash and CO2; and would crack underground water systems. Ambre planned to sell purified CO2, (as does Wesfarmers in Western Australia, from its ammonia plant). Tree-planting on ash piles: The idea was it would plant trees and keep dust down by water spraying supplemented with dust suppressant agents.

Ambre Energy’s giant coal mine plan: ship CO2 1200 kilometers to Moomba; if price of carbon gets high enough

Ambre Energy's planned giant coal mine generation were said to create units one-half to one-third of CO2 from a conventional coal fired power station. Typical sub-critical coal fired power stations generate carbon dioxide at approximately 1000kgCO2/MWh, it said. However the cost of shipping carbon to Moomba was over $20/ tonne so it was cheaper to pay the carbon permit price, Jason Russell, Exploration Manager, Ambre Energy told Gas Week.

Ambre Energy’s giant Queensland coal mine will use or destroy ground water resources in the coal seam zone of Walloon coal measure, and Hodgson Creek.

Ambre Energy’s plans for a gigantic coal mine, fuel plant and CO2 dump near Toowoomba, Queensland was frank in its report of the impact of water resources; ‘The water from these resources (is) fully allocated to the farming community, discussions will be held with DNRW as to the process required to access these resources'. Will damage groundwater: 'Initially mining will intersect ground water resources in the Walloon coal measure and although unlikely, may intersect groundwater in the alluvials of Hodgson Creek'.

Or how about this from Ambre Energy's submission to the Federal Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper -

Ironically, although coal gasification is seen as our best chance of reducing the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, the introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in 2010 has the potential to impact adversely on the development of this technology in Australia for at least 2 reasons:

1. The Scheme adds to the already high commercial risks associated with these types of projects. The cost of purchasing carbon pollution permits comes on top of the high capital costs of coal gasification plants and the difficulty of attracting project finance because of the relative novelty of the technology.

2. While the technology for capturing pure CO2 from syngas is well advanced, the technology associated with geosequestration of CO2 requires further development. There is much confidence about the ultimate prospects for low-cost commercial geosequestration, but during this "gap", coal gasification plants will have no option but to purchase carbon pollution permits.

Mitigating the Negative Impacts of the Scheme
The simplest way to mitigate the negative impacts of the Scheme on proposed coal gasification projects would be to grant such projects an initial ‘holiday’ of a specified period of years during which time carbon pollution permits would be provided at no cost for all or most of the CO2 emissions generated by the project. This would have the effect of reducing some of the financial risks associated with the project.

Alternatively, financial assistance could be offered in other forms, for example, by way of government loans or loan guarantees for qualifying projects (compare the US Department of Energy’s Loan Guarantee Scheme).
Unless appropriate assistance is offered to these projects, there is a very strong possibility that coal gasification technology will not be established in Australia by commercial operators for many years, if ever.

So, it's not clean after all, and they want taxpayers to pay for their pollution.

Here's a suggestion - until geosequestration of CO2 is proven to work practically & economically, leave the coal in the ground and give Govt assistance to renewable energy, which is already proven, does not trash our environment, coexists easily with top quality food production, and would provide lots of jobs.

Rivers and mines don't mix

2009-01-31T19:38:00.000-08:00

The Environmental Protection Agency website homepage has a report on recent pollution of the Fitzroy River System in Central Qld from coal mine "dewatering". Go to http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/ . Here's a snippet -

Fitzroy River Water Quality
Background:
In January/February 2008 parts of Central Queensland were hit by what may have been one-in-five-hundred-year flood affecting much of the Bowen Basin area of Central Queensland, significantly in the Nogoa, Belyando and Warrego rivers.

The Fairbairn Dam overflowed late in January, flooding the township of Emerald, resulting in the declaration of the area as a disaster zone.

A number of mines in the region were also affected by this unprecedented rainfall event. In order to allow recovery of these mines after the floods, the Environmental Protection Agency approved a number of Emergency Directions and Transitional Environmental Programs under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, allowing the affected mines to discharge flood waters to nearby streams, subject to certain conditions.

At the time the EPA issued these approvals it was identified that the longer the water remained stored in large mine pits, the greater the decrease in quality and potential effects on natural waterways, the aquatic environment and water resource users. The EPA consulted with mining companies, the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) and the Emerald Shire Disaster Recovery Team before approving the discharge of entrapped flood waters from flooded mines.

Ensham Coal Mine (photos above and below), 40km east of Emerald, was one of the most severely affected of those mines, being subject to rainfall and flooding that trapped a dragline and resulted in an estimated 150,000 megalitres (ML) of floodwater being collected in the mine. The EPA authorised the mine to discharge flood waters entrapped in this mine to the Nogoa River, which ultimately flows into the Fitzroy River, under strict conditions which were based on guideline values from the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000) and were designed to protect the downstream environmental values of the river – including the use of the water for agricultural and domestic purposes. In the months that this work has been undertaken, water in the river has been monitored to assess any potential impacts.

In August 2008, water quality results for Bedford Weir downstream of Ensham Coal Mine, indicated that salinity was increasing in waterways, dams and weirs downstream of the Ensham discharge and that domestic water supplies for some townships using this source for their drinking supplies were being affected.
Queensland Health issued a health alert to the community about the potential health affect of increased salinity for those members of the public having to monitor their sodium intake. Ensham Mine voluntarily ceased discharging water from the mine on 9 September.

Queensland Government response
A technical working group including a number of government agencies and experts was formed to further investigate issues associated with the situation and address these issues. Sodium levels in some drinking water supplies were found to be above the aesthetic quality parameter of 180ug/L which is potentially a health concern for people on low salt diets and bottle fed infants younger than six months. The smell and taste of the water also caused concerns for residents in the townships of Blackwater and Tieri. There were also concerns from the public that wildlife may be impacted by the elevated salinity.

Guess what? Ensham has started pumping out again. Qld Country Life report -

Deja vu for Fitzroy mine water
MELISSA MARTIN
15/01/2009 11:03:00 AM
IN what could be described as a case of deja vu, Emerald's Ensham Resources has again been forced to temporarily discharge water into the Nogoa River to maintain production after more than 300 megalitres of water flowed into the coalmine during recent heavy rain.
With total falls of more than 120mm since December 27, 2008, in the vicinity of Ensham Mine, it has so far discharged 70ML since January 3.
It comes a year after monsoon rain and heavy flooding in the Central Highlands first prompted the mine to start discharging water into the river system.
In the nine months to September 2008, Ensham dewatered a total of 140,000ML into the river system.
The latest dewatering at the mine has renewed calls from community and industry groups for ongoing independent water quality testing of the Nogoa and other waterways in the Fitzroy Basin, and for a long-term alternative solution to mines having to dewater into waterways.

Ambre Energy propose developing a huge 13million t/year open-cut mine adjacent to Hodgson Creek in the headwaters of the Murray Darling. Where do they propose to pump the toxic water that will collect?

Floods threaten Felton project

2009-01-17T20:22:00.000-08:00

Heavy rain at the end of November and beginning of December lead to significant flooding in Hodgson Creek. Ambre Energy plan to site their "Felton Clean Coal Project" adjacent to Hodgson Creek. Recent experience in Central Qld should serve as a warning against such developments near major water courses - the Ensham mine was flooded in early 2008, and was allowed by the EPA to "dewater" into the nearby Nogoa River. Water quality was badly affected by salts and other minerals in a large part of the Fitzroy river system, all the way to Rockhampton. After recent rain last month, Ensham has commenced "dewatering" once more.........

For a detailed look at Ambre Energy's plans for the first stage of their proposed project at Felton, go to

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=referral_detail&proposal_id=4580

Friends of Felton occupy Anna Bligh's office

2008-11-01T00:58:00.000-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE

Friday 31st October

Time : 12.30pm

Location : Anna Bligh’s office, West End, Brisbane

Farmers occupy Qld Premier’s office to save Darling Downs from coal mining

The Friends of Felton group today sat on the floor in the Premier’s office to demand the Government introduce legislation to protect prime farmland from mining. The peaceful protest involved around 25 people.

Spokesman Rob McCreath said “The mining boom is out of control. Areas such as Felton, Jimbour, and Warra are the jewels in the crown of rural Queensland. The Premier must act now to protect our food bowl from destruction.”

The group set up a mock lunch table on the pavement outside the office, with a plate of coal for the Premier’s lunch, and a glass of polluted water.

The protesters shared their own picnic lunch with onlookers – a picnic made from fresh Darling Downs ingredients.

Lunch with Anna

2008-10-30T03:46:00.000-07:00

Friends of Felton

Invite you to

Lunch with Anna

12.30pm Friday 31st October

Venue : Anna Bligh’s electorate office, 90 Vulture St, West End, Brisbane.

We’re having : A picnic made from finest Darling Downs ingredients.

She’s having : A plate of coal, washed down by polluted water.

RSVP
Friends of Felton

Menu

There’s nothing like a coal lunch……….

Appetisers
Fresh compote of carbonated leachate a-la-Ambre.

Mine Course
Chargrilled anthracite, aged to perfection ( 400 million years), marinated in D.M.E. and topped with syngas sauce.

Dessert
Unlikely – due to colic!

It’s alimentary dear Bligh, coal is unpalatable, indigestible, and a Bligh-t on the land. Felton food is forever!

www.friendsoffelton.blogspot.com

Our Aim – For the Qld Government to legislate to protect prime agricultural land from myopic mining madness.

GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING : COAL IS ADDICTIVE

Film & Information Evenings well attended

2008-10-10T16:17:00.000-07:00

Friends of Felton organised 2 very successful Film & Information Evenings in Pittsworth and Toowoomba on Wednesday and Thursday. 190 people attended, including several TRC councillors. The event was billed as "Coal Mining in our Backyard - How will it affect us? What can we do?"

The film "Rivers of Shame 2" was shown, which highlights the impact of mining on rivers, aquifers, and local communities. It was produced by the Rivers SOS Group in NSW.

Chair of Friends of Felton, Rob McCreath, gave a presentation to demonstrate the extent of the coal mining industry on the Darling Downs at present, and to show which areas are currently covered by Exploration Permits.

"Many people are blissfully unaware that virtually the entire Darling Downs is under threat from the mining industry. This land is amongst the very best in Australia, and we must act quickly to pressure the Qld Government to protect it from mining, before it is too late. The imminent construction of the "Missing Link" rail line from Wandoan to Banana will allow the export of coal from the Darling Downs through the port of Gladstone. A large number of companies are keen to develop mines in prime agricultural areas such as Felton, Cambooya, Jimbour, and Warra. Some of these areas, such as Hodgson Vale and Wyreema are virtually in the suburbs of Toowoomba."

On Friday Ambre Energy applied for a Mining Lease at Felton. They propose building a 12.8Mt/yr open cut mine, and a petrochemical plant to convert the coal to liquid fuel.

"The Felton Project would have a horrendous impact on the environment, affecting the entire Toowoomba Region and beyond. It would poison our water supplies, and emit toxic pollution into the air. If the Felton Project is allowed to go ahead, it will be virtually impossible to stop the others, because they will seem clean in comparison" said Mr McCreath.

Dr Pauline Roberts, from the Caroona Coal Action Group, Liverpool Plains, NSW, highlighted how toxic coal is to human and environmental health. She said -

"Elements such as arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium, selenium, nickel, vanadium and copper are accumulated and concentrated within coal and associated strata.

Radioactive elements such as uranium, thorium and radium (the latter which decays to radon gas) are also accumulated and concentrated within coal strata. These are toxic in their own right and toxic via the radioactivity they emit.

Coal seams, even those considered ‘low sulphur’ contain significant amounts of sulphur and sulphides whose bio-toxicity increases when exposed to air or water.

The fine particulate nature of coal dust, and the toxic constituents therein are readily inhaled and lodge in the lungs as well as being ingested.

Coal strata also contain hydrocarbons and benzene-ring derivatives within their organic layers that are considered carcinogenic.

Any water that is found within coal strata will be saline in nature, contaminated with organic derivatives and toxic and heavy metals.

Children, with their increased needs for minerals are particularly at risk from heavy metal toxicity. Some of these metals, like lead, have half lives in the body of 20 years, which means that their effects will only be truly known over several decades."

Dr Roberts warned a large part of State Government mining royalties should be allocated to the Health budget to cope with the long-term impact of the present mining boom.

Acland farmer Sid Plant spoke of his family's experience of living next to the New Acland mine. He told the meeting of the constant noise from blasting and heavy machinery, saying he hadn't slept properly at night for the first 18 months. He described the dust cloud which had aggravated his wife's asthma, and contaminated their drinking water. They now drank filtered bore water, as they could no longer drink the water collected from their roof. He pointed out the favourable treatment mining companies get from the State Government. "New Hope are putting in a water pipeline to supply their proposed mine expansion, before the EIS process has been completed." He said.

Toowoomba Regional Council must protect good agricultural land.

2008-10-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE 2nd October 2008

Friends of Felton

Toowoomba Regional Council must protect good agricultural land.

Friends of Felton welcomes today’s announcement from Dalby Regional Council that it is taking steps to map and identify areas of good agricultural land, in order to protect it from mining.

The Felton Valley is under threat from a proposal by Ambre Energy to build a 12.5 million t/yr open-cut coal mine and associated petrochemical plant to convert the coal into liquid fuel.

Spokesman Rob McCreath said-
“The coal mining industry is out of control. Left unchecked, it will destroy a huge area of prime farmland across the Darling Downs. Areas such as Felton are unique, and should be preserved to guarantee Australia’s food production for the future. We call on Mayor Peter Taylor and Toowoomba Regional Council to follow the example set by Dalby Regional Council, and protect our food bowl.”

ENDS

Climate Emergency Rally

2008-10-01T02:54:00.000-07:00

Friends of Felton took part in the Climate Emergency Rally at Parliament House in Brisbane on Sunday.

Spokesman Rob McCreath addressed the crowd, and pointed out the huge environmental impact of the proposed Felton coal-to-liquids project. "Ambre Energy's own figures show their petrochemical plant would produce 3 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne of fuel produced.The open-cut mine would release large amounts of methane to the atmosphere, with serious climatic consequences."He said that agriculture was under attack from coal mining on two fronts. "Large areas of prime farmland are directly threatened with destruction, whilst climate change accelerated by the burning of coal is causing more frequent and severe droughts."

Paul Benedek, rally organiser from the Climate Emergency Network, said "Emissions cannot be allowed to increase. A tripling of coal production-as is planned by the Queensland Government-is an utter insanity that must be stopped. We are rallying to demand a massive shift to renewable energy, to public transport, and to sustainability. It is ironic that we are seeing a global plan putting $800bn into bailing out merchant banks, and yet there is seemingly nothing to bail out the planet that we live and depend on."

To listen to Rob's speech, click on the link below-

http://climateemergencyqueensland.blogspot.com/2008/09/rob-mccreath-friends-of-felton.html

Once the web page opens, click on "original audio source"

Sign of the times

2008-09-21T14:19:00.000-07:00

Spot the MP!

Qld Governor Penny Wensley addresses the Carnival of Flowers crowd, supported by Friends of Felton

2008-09-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

Friends of Felton take Carnival of Flowers parade by storm

2008-09-21T00:59:00.000-07:00

Our float in Toowoomba's Carnival of Flowers got a fantastic reception from the large crowd lining the streets.

Film & Information Evenings - 8 & 9 October

2008-09-19T03:08:00.000-07:00

COAL MINING IN OUR BACKYARD…
HOW WILL IT AFFECT US?
WHAT CAN WE DO?

A Film & Information Evening

WEDNESDAY 8TH OCTOBER
6:45PM
PITTSWORTH GOLF CLUB
Hill Street, Pittsworth

THURSDAY 9TH OCTOBER
6:45PM
TOOWOOMBA INDOOR BOWLS CLUB
10 Annand Street, Toowoomba

Guest Speakers include;
Pauline Roberts & John Polglase, Caroona Coal Action Group, Liverpool Plains, NSW. www.ccag.org.au

Sid Plant, Farmer & Climatologist, Acland.

Film: Rivers of Shame 2 - produced by Rivers SOS - www.riverssos.com

Organised by Friends of Felton

All welcome!

Meeting with Andrew McNamara

2008-09-11T01:34:00.000-07:00

A delegation from Friends of Felton met with Andrew McNamara, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation at Parliament House in Brisbane yesterday. The group was accompanied by Stuart Copeland, Member for Cunningham.

Discussion focused mainly on environmental and social matters. The Government recently announced that a Social Impact Statement must be prepared as well as an Environmental Impact Statement before a Mining Lease is granted.

Fair Go for Felton

2008-09-04T02:01:00.000-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE 3rd September 2008

Friends of Felton

Fair Go for Felton

The Premier recently announced a ban on new shale oil developments in Queensland for environmental reasons. In state parliament last week, the Minister for Mines & Energy stated that no new entitlements would be granted until a 2 year review had been carried out.

Friends of Felton were informed by the Premier's dept on 27th August that the Felton project proposed by Ambre Energy was not affected by the ban.

Friends of Felton call for the Felton project to be included in the shale oil ban on the following grounds -

1. The coal-to-liquids process at Felton is very similar to the process planned for the Whitsundays.

2. Shale has been identified in the resource at Felton ( Ambre Energy IAS 15 Feb 2008, pp 10-11).

3. The Whitsundays project threatened the Barrier Reef, the Felton project threatens the Murray Darling Basin.

4. Both projects would emit huge amounts of CO2 - at Felton, Ambre Energy themselves say 3t CO2 per 1t fuel.

5. The technology involved in both projects is equally unproven.

The Premier was quoted as saying "The environment must come first". By including Felton in the shale oil ban, she will demonstrate her concern for the natural environment as well as the political environment.

ENDS

Photographic Exhibition a great success

2008-08-31T20:50:00.000-07:00

A large crowd of around 100 people packed the Pepperina Gallery at Nobby on Sunday for the official opening of the Friends of Felton Photographic Exhibition.The photographs on display showcase the beauty of the Felton Valley. Curator Lorraine Seipel (pictured)was given lavish praise by the gathering for the high quality of the exhibition. A number of the works have been selected to hang in the Carnival of Flowers exhibition, including one by Lorraine Seipel which recently won first prize in the Megapix Sharing the Vision Acquisitive Photographic Art Competition. The official opening was performed by Stuart Copeland MP, member for Cunningham. Music was provided by local group "Sunrise Road". The group was buoyed by the strong support from the public, and more activities are in the pipeline.

Will Anna Bligh scrap the Felton coal-to-liquids project?

2008-08-24T01:42:00.000-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE 24/08/2008

Friends of Felton

Will Anna Bligh scrap the Felton coal-to-liquids project?

Friends of Felton welcome the announcement that the Bligh Government has scrapped the proposed $14b shale oil mining project in the Whitsundays.

We also welcome the declaration that other big developments will be stopped if they threaten Queensland’s pristine environment, and that legislation will be passed to prohibit new shale oil mines anywhere in Queensland.

We call on the Premier to confirm that this ban will include Ambre Energy’s proposed development at Felton, 30 km SW of Toowoomba, on the Darling Downs. This proposal includes a 12 million t/year open-cut coal mine, and a petrochemical plant to convert the coal into liquid fuel.

This project would devastate one of this country’s most beautiful & fertile valleys, contaminate underground aquifers, pollute the Murray Darling river system, destroy nationally significant populations of rare & endangered species, and produce huge quantities of Greenhouse gases.

Ms Bligh was quoted as saying “Our environment must come first”.

Will the Felton environment come first too?

ENDS

Anna Bligh scraps Whitsunday shale oil proposal

2008-08-24T01:36:00.000-07:00

Anna Bligh scraps Whitsunday shale oil proposal

Article from: Sunday Mail

Darrell Giles
August 24, 2008 12:00am

IN A victory for conservationists, the Bligh Government has scrapped a proposed $14b shale oil mining operation in the Whitsundays.

The Government also signalled that other big developments will be canned if they threaten Queensland's pristine environment. Premier Anna Bligh will today announce a 20-year moratorium on all mining activities and exploration over the McFarlane deposit, 15km south of Proserpine.

Conservationists feared the project would harm the Great Barrier Reef and local tourism, and the health of people who lived and farmed nearby.

But Queensland Energy Resources, the company investigating a plan to mine up to 1.6 million barrels of oil from the deposit, said it would have created 3000 permanent jobs, 3000 more in the construction phase, and produced oil for Australia for the next 40 years.

Ms Bligh said she would not allow the environment to be put at risk while the technology for extraction of the controversial resource was still not proven.
"Our environment must come first," Ms Bligh told The Sunday Mail yesterday.

The announcement will immediately stop plans to dig up about 400,000 tonnes of rock for resource testing of the deposit.
Ms Bligh said only one lease to mine oil shale existed, in Gladstone, and legislation would be passed so no new shale oil mines were permitted anywhere in Queensland.
"The Government will devote the next two years to researching whether oil shale deposits can be used in an environmentally acceptable way," Ms Bligh said.

Oil shale is sedimentary rock which is mined using open-cut technology. It contains kerogen, a bituminous material which is released when heated to extremely high temperatures of about 350C.
Further stages of processing produce something similar to crude oil, which can be refined to diesel.

More than 92 per cent of Australia's oil shale deposits are in Queensland – between Bundaberg and Proserpine – and QER owns the mining rights to two-thirds of it, worth about 15.8 billion barrels.

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said small-scale demonstration plants using shale oil from the Stuart resource at Gladstone would still be allowed, but only if companies got a licence and their technology passed strict environmental standards.

Photographic Exhibition Invitation

2008-08-21T02:38:00.000-07:00

The Friends of Felton Photographic Exhibition will be officially opened by Stuart Copeland MP on Sunday 31st August, at the Pepperina Gallery, Nobby, 30km South of Toowoomba.

This high quality exhibition has been produced by Lorraine Seipel, and comprises photographs taken by members of Friends of Felton of the Felton Valley and surrounding areas, currently under threat from Ambre Energy's proposed coal mine & petrochemical plant. One of these images, a photograph of Hodgson Creek taken by Lorraine, was recently judged the winner of the Megapix-Sharing the Vision Aquisitive Photographic Art Prize 2008. Six others were selected for the forthcoming Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers Photographic Exhibition 2008.

Getting the message out

2008-08-10T02:48:00.000-07:00

A hard frost at Felton yesterday morning didn't put off a large group of volunteers who turned out to decorate more grain bins with campaign slogans.

Young people concerned about their community

2008-08-06T02:53:00.000-07:00

Friends of Felton Chair, Rob McCreath, was invited to give a talk to 90 Grade 9 students at Pittsworth State High School on Monday. The students are studying sustainability, and wanted to hear our concerns about the mine, petrochemical plant, and power station planned for Felton. They were a very enthusiastic audience, and very interested to discuss what effect the development might have on their town, their lifestyle, and their community.

Today's Pittsworth Sentinel printed the following letters from 2 students -

Sir,
I am a student at Pittsworth State High School. We have recently had a guest speaker speaking to us and he was telling us about the Felton Mine. If the mine is out in Felton than it will eventually reach Pittsworth.
The Felton Mine will be very close to Pittsworth and will be very bad for us all. Some say it will be a good thing that the mine is put in but I don't think so. Yes the Felton Mine will give us 24 million tonnes of coal a year but it will also pollute the area and when the wind blows our way the bad polluted air will to, also the dust will be everywhere.
We will get more traffic and trucks. Pittsworth is known as a quite country town and if we attract more people it will ruin it for everyone, most people in Pittsworth are happy with Pittsworth as it is.
In Felton there are families that have been living there for generations and if a mine goes there it will affect them all, they might even eventually lose some of the nice land they own. They will also hear loud explosive bangs all the time, and if children live here you can't help but think if they are going to be ok. If this mine was in Felton it would be one of the biggest mines in Queensland, it will be a great loss of agricultural land.
I am trying to stop this mine and I am hoping people will help. If you want to help stop this mine but need more information just go to http://www.friendsoffelton.blogspot.com/.
Yours Sincerely, Student 1

Sir,
I am a student at Pittsworth State High School and we have recently had a guest speaker in to talk to us about the Felton Mine.
If the mine is put in it will eventually reach Pittsworth. Some say it will be good that it will reach us here because of business but it will bring trucks and dust as well. At full production the mine would take out 24 million tonnes of coal a year.
This would make it one of the biggest coal mines in Queensland. There will be a massive loss of prime agricultural land. There are families that have been living there for generations and hope to live there for many more but that dream will be shattered because of this mine.
I am trying to put a stop to this mine and if you want to help, visit the website http://www.friendsoffelton.blogspot.com/ and help us stop the mine from ruining lives.

Yours sincerely, Student 2

Friends of Felton need your help!

2008-07-29T21:28:00.000-07:00

Ambre Energy (Felton) Pty Ltd has lodged a planning application with Toowoomba Regional Council for a "Material Change of Use" over 589Ha, to establish site offices and storage areas.

I am writing to appeal to everyone to PLEASE write to Toowoomba Regional Council, to object to Ambre Energy's planning application. Friends of Felton's main argument is that although the application is for a couple of dongas, this is the first stage of Ambre's much bigger plans. They cannot be granted a Mining Lease until a thorough Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared ( and we'll have plenty to say about that), therefore this application should be rejected.

We know that many of the councillors are on our side, and some have spoken out strongly against Ambre's plans. However, they are all under a lot of pressure, not least from the Qld Govt, who have a huge debt and are keen for the project to succeed. We need to give the councillors as much encouragement as possible to reject this application.

Lets flood them with letters of objection!

Your letter doesn't need to be long, or typed (handwritten is fine). Just make sure you put your name & address on it, and sign it. It doesn't matter where you live, letters are valid from anywhere - as long as they get to Toowoomba Regional Council on or before Weds 6th August.

Feel free to forward this to anyone you think would help us. If you have neighbours or friends without email, please print this off for them.

Remember the Dalai Lama's remark - " If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending the night with a mosquito".

The 2 next posts should help, sorry they're in reverse order.

Submission template

2008-07-29T21:24:00.000-07:00

Your name and address

Date

The Chief Executive Officer
Toowoomba Regional Council
PO Box 3021
Toowoomba Village Fair
Qld 4350

Dear Sir/Madam

MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE APPLICATION: Hayden Road, Felton (Lot 1 on RP197372)

We refer to the material change of use application made by Ambre Energy (Felton) Pty. Ltd. in respect to Lot 1 on Plan RP197372 (Hayden Rd, Felton East)

Ambre Energy (Felton) Pty. Ltd. proposes to establish a site office and additional storage yard to support ongoing drilling and core sampling activities prior to the commencement of formal mining activities both on the site and in the broader Felton area.

We are owners of . . . . . /resident in the area ……………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. (give a brief account of your interest in the application)

Our key concern about the proposed material change of use from ‘rural’ to ‘industrial – low impact and commercial use’ at this site is that this development application presupposes the granting by State Government of a mining lease over a number of properties within the Felton area. Granting of such a lease can only happen, by law, following the completion and acceptance of a comprehensive Environmental Impact Study. Approval of this current development application by Council should take into account the proposed project as a whole.

Our concerns about the project as a whole (and consequently, this development application as a first request for approval of the Ambre Energy coal mining and petro-chemical processing project) cover a number of areas (suggestions only; please make you own list of headings to cover the things you are most concerned about):

conflict with the strategic plan
conflict with the planning scheme
impact on agricultural enterprises
impact on the environment
impact on amenity, community character etc
impact on road safety
noise, dust etc

Use each of these points as headings for the next section, providing details of your concerns

Strategic plan

(your point 1)
(your point 2) etc

Planning Scheme

(your point 1)
(your point 2) etc

Impact on agriculture

(your point 1)
(your point 2) etc

Etc.

Conclusion

For the above reasons, we oppose the proposed change of landuse as the first stage of a project which poses a significant threat to the Felton Valley community. We ask that Council refuse the application.

Yours faithfully

(name)

Help with making a submission to Toowoomba Regional Council

2008-07-29T21:11:00.000-07:00

Extracts from Environmental Defenders Office (Qld) Inc. “Factsheet 7: Making submissions on development applications”.

A submission is a special type of letter written to an authority considering a development application; it sets out either (i) the submitter’s reasons for why a specific development application should be refused or made subject to conditions addressing the submitter’s concerns, or (ii) why the submitter believes an application should be approved.

A properly made submission should:
(1) be in writing
(2) be received during the submission period (in this case, by Wednesday 6th August)
(3) state the name and address of every person making the submission
(4) be signed by all making the submission
(5) state the grounds of the submission and the facts relied on to support those grounds, and
(6) be made to the assessment manager for the development application

Individual submissions are more effective than petitions or form letters.

Anyone can make a submission; you don’t need to be resident in the area.

Grounds for making submissions can include: impact of a development on amenity (e.g. dust, noise, light, odour, visual factors), community character, traffic, noise, air pollution, waste management, land contamination, need and economic factors, property values, ecological impacts, cultural impacts, social impacts.

Developments need to align with and further objectives set out in the local government planning scheme (under the Integrated Planning Act), and to comply with any codes (e.g. building codes, landscaping codes, character protection codes) relevant to the development.

Council’s decision regarding an impact assessable development must advance ecological sustsainability

If you make a submission, you will be notified of the assessment manager’s decision on the development application.

There is no cost involved in making a submission.

Before making a submission, it is suggested in the factsheet that you should view:

(i) the development application (TRC website, planning and building, pd on line, search application, 2008 / 3040)

(ii) the local government planning documents (these are available at cost from the Pittsworth Council Offices, either on CD for $20 or in report form for $50 )
(iii) any relevant codes

(iv) any relevant planning, ecological, cultural, traffic or other studies for the area.

Points to bear in mind:

facts must be provided to support the submission
use headings to group your points
suggest conditions which might be imposed on the development to address your concerns

The following is an example of how you might set out your submission. Please change any of the text to suit your own situation/opinion.

Please ensure that you either post or deliver you submission to ensure that it arrives before the close of business on Wednesday 6th August 2008, and please remember to sign it.

Where is Felton?

2008-07-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

Felton is around 30km southwest of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. The site for the proposed development is on the western side of Hodgson Creek, approx 2.5km from Felton on the Pittsworth road. Click on the link below for a map -

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Felton+East&ie=UTF8&ll=-27.741885,151.659393&spn=0.518993,0.845947&z=10

Friends of Felton Report 22 July 2008

2008-07-29T00:47:00.000-07:00

MP’s Ray Hopper from the Queensland parliament and Ian Macfarlane from the Federal parliament headlined the meeting held last week at Felton.

Ray Hopper MP

Ray used his experience with the Ackland Mine as an example of the growth in size of mining in the area, and stated that whilst not against mining per se, he is totally against the destruction of prime farming land. He is concerned that the proposed rail link to Gladstone will open up more prime land to mining, which should be preserved for feeding and clothing our nation. Ray highlighted similar issues that Friends of Felton face in the Liverpool Plains and the Hunter Valley. At the “Meeting of the Minds”, organized by Bruce Scott MP in Dalby, a map was shown where all the farming land on the Downs was potentially covered by exploration leases, which was of great concern to Ray.

Ian Macfarlane MP

Ian pointed out that this is mainly a State issue with little Federal jurisdiction, but that his base belief is in agriculture. He encouraged Friends of Felton supporters to lobby the new Liberal/National party in Queensland to commit to strengthen the laws protecting arable land, as part of their election platform. Ian suggested the proposed carbon tax may have some impact on mine development, and if the oil price were to drop below $100 per barrel, the “Coal to Liquids” process is likely to become unviable economically.

Projects for the sequestration of CO2 have not been successful to date, and the only working project in Norway is under suspicion for leakage of the gas. Physical sequestration has a long way to go.

Change of use application

Ambre Energy have applied for the above on a Felton property to base a site office for the mine. Anyone wishing to lodge a submission to the Toowoomba Regional Council has until 6 August to do so, and the application can be viewed under the planning and building section of the TRC website, code 2008/3040

Mobile Signs

A very successful working bee has resulted in 2 large mobile signs being displayed in the Felton area, and further publicity is being planned.

The slogan for this week is Clean Coal, Dirty Joke
The next meeting will be held at the Felton Hall on Tuesday 5th August.

Hugh Reardon-Smith
Secretary Friends of Felton
382 words
24/7/08

Sign writing

2008-07-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

We had a great turn out of volunteers at the weekend to paint slogans on old grain bins.

The idea was to keep the message simple, and concentrate on two key issues with Ambre Energy's plans for our valley - CO2 emissions and the loss of prime farmland.

These mobile billboards will add to the message from dozens of improvised signs which are springing up like mushrooms around the area.

Friends of Felton 8 July Report

2008-07-13T16:50:00.001-07:00

Friends of Felton Report

Last week’s meeting concentrated on reports on Ambre Energy’s Pittsworth information meeting, and a meeting with Peter Kenny of AgForce.

Ambre’s Information Meeting

Ambre’s plans for the CO2 that will be produced at the proposed hybrid energy plant were frustratingly vague at the Pittsworth meeting, with a number of options apparently under consideration. It appears that piping it to Moonie is the most favoured, with a sleeve suggested as the answer to fixing the current leaks in the pipeline. What was uncomfortably clear was that the amount of CO2 expected to be produced has tripled, to 3 tonnes of CO2 for every 1 tonne of DME (dimethyl ether).

The location of the potential buffer zones around the mine and plant are still to be decided by Ambre, and the future supply of water is still uncertain. Although Ambre are no longer planning to wash the coal, they will still need to import water and appear to be considering using potential saline water from the Dalby gas fields, but are unclear about potential desalination.

Ambre expect to apply for a mining lease within 4 weeks, but are unsure when the revised IAS (initial advice statement) will be available. They then expect the EIS (environmental impact survey) to take 18 months. Friends of Felton will only have 20 days to lodge suggestions for terms of reference for the EIS once the lease application is lodged.

AgForce Meeting

Friends of Felton were invited to join concerned AgForce members meeting with Peter Kenny recently. The group were informed about AgForce’s activities concerning the farming versus mining issue, and how AgForce could assist in the future.

Publicity

The recent 7.30 Report exposure was well received by the group, and further publicity was discussed. The photographic exhibition is expected to be on display in the Pittsworth Gallery from 21st July – well worth a visit to see how beautiful the Felton Valley is.

The logo for this week is Mining in Felton. Shame, Shame, Shame.

The next meeting will be held at the Felton Hall on Tuesday 22nd July at 7pm, where Ray Hopper, MP for Darling Downs, will address the group.

Focus on Hodgson Creek

2008-06-15T16:53:00.000-07:00

Guests at last week’s Friends of Felton meeting were Dr Mark Silburn, a senior hydrologist and Dr Richard Cresswell, a hydroechemist, who talked about the work they have been doing around Hodgson Creek.

The Hodgson Creek catchment area is 566 square kms, has over 1400 private bores and 24 monitoring bores. The group heard that the discharge/recharges cycles change with the wet/dry periods, and that although groundwater levels do respond to rainfall events, the time taken can vary from weeks to 9 months depending on soil type.

Hodgson Creek is unusual in that it flows 90% of the time, more than expected in Queensland with evaporation levels. Work has been done to measure the age of the water entering the creek to identify the different sources.

The effect of a possible mine on discharge and flow rates was discussed, as well as the sodic and salinity issues of the Dalby coal seam water, which has been mentioned as possibly being used by Ambre Energy for their proposed hybrid energy plant.

In other matters, Friends of Felton representatives had a very productive meeting with the Mines Minister, Geoff Wilson, which was arranged by Stuart Copeland. The Minister listened to the group’s concerns and assured the group that when an Environmental Impact Statement needs to be collated for a mining application, the rules would be followed.

The stands by Friends of Felton at the two World Environment Day functions in Toowoomba were well received, and with brochures available at the AgForce site at Farmfest, the concerns of Friends of Felton are reaching a wider audience. Lorraine Seipel’s photographic display of the Felton Valley was very popular, and will be on general display soon.

A number of Friends of Felton members have been contacted by the ABC’s 7.30 Report to be part of a story filmed this week on the conflict between farming and mining.

This week’s slogan is : Farmers are great, It’s the mining we hate

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 24th June at 7pm at the Felton Hall : all welcome.

Recent Developments

2008-06-05T23:29:00.000-07:00

Friends of Felton (FOF) chairman Rob McCreath has been in contact with Ambre Energy regarding their latest plans for the Felton mine and hybrid energy plant. It appears Ambre Energy have no set date for the release of their updated Initial Advice Statement (IAS). FOF are waiting to see the details of Ambre Energy’s revised plans for the hybrid energy plant so as to reassess the impact to the Felton Valley.

A delegation from FOF met with the Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) in Millmerran to voice their concerns and ask for TRC support. The council appeared surprised at the planned scale of the mine and plant, with production to reach 24 million tonnes of coal a year, and FOF felt the council was very much in support of their view that it is time a line in the sand was drawn as regards mining in this area. The suggested line runs between Millmerran and Acland, and FOF asked that no planning applications for mining or any energy plant be approved east of that line.

The photographic project put together by Lorraine Seipel was displayed at the meeting, and the attendees were very impressed by the presentation and quality of the display. This will be seen at the World Environment Day functions in Toowoomba on Sunday 1 June.

This week’s slogan is : Petro Chemcials Out, We Need Farmers Without Doubt

The next meeting will be on Thursday 12th June at 7pm at the Felton Hall : all welcome

The Case Against

2008-05-30T23:32:00.000-07:00

THE FELTON CLEAN COAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
THE CASE AGAINST

Compiled and Submitted by the Friends of Felton

To the TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL April 2008

Summary

The so-called Felton Clean Coal Demonstration Project (hereafter referred to as the Felton Coal Project) is a Stage 1 development proposal being advocated by Ambre Energy Pty Ltd for a site at Felton, 30 km south west of Toowoomba.

The Friends of Felton is a representative group of concerned residents and citizens, totally opposed to the development. The grounds for the Group’s opposition are simple and include the following:

Large scale coal mining is totally out of character with the social and cultural history of the Felton district.

The Felton area is characterised by intensive, diverse and sustainable farming with some family names having persisted in the district for a hundred years.

Governments have a major role to play in weaning Australia off its dependency on coal for energy production. They can do this by vesting ownership of the licensing role with local communities that have to suffer the externalities associated with mining. With such a condition in place, miners would have to convince those directly affected that their mining operations would make the local community better off.

Despite all the claims, coal is not and cannot become a ‘clean’ industry in either relative or absolute terms. Indeed it remains dirty and dangerous and should be minimised as a source of energy so that other, cleaner forms of energy get the chance to emerge and flourish (see references at the end of this submission).

-o0o-

Introduction

The Felton Coal Project is being proposed as Stage 1 of a two stage project. Progression to Stage 2 would be dependent on ‘successful’ completion of Stage 1. While opposed to any stage, the Friends of Felton are insistent that no concessions are granted to make progression to Stage 1 somehow easier than if the project was not staged. In other words, the conditions applying to both stages should be tied and immutable. If the project proceeds to Stage 2 as planned, would extract 24 million tonnes of coal per year making it one of the largest in Queensland and four times that of the New Acland mine near Oakey. The planned size of the mine is a major concern for Felton residents as it infers environmental and infrastructure impacts of a proportional magnitude. For a rural area, Felton is densely settled so many people would find themselves adversely affected by the mining related externalities, at and around the site. The affected country (approximately 2,500 hectares) lies in the floor of the Felton Valley and currently supports a fully sustainable agricultural system comprising fertile soils, an uncontaminated and reliable water supply, specialised capital, technical know-how, cultural history and strong social networks. The proposition is to sacrifice this system, with its capacity to provide food and bio-mass in perpetuity, for a high-emissions coal mine that will last for less than 40 years, and compromise any return to productive agriculture postmining.

Under Australian law, the land owner’s usage rights do not automatically extend to mining materials that might lie beneath the surface. Thus ‘someone else’ can acquire mining rights to explore for and take materials buried below land that is the home and means of livelihood of a landholder. This situation is demonstratively unfair and has an in-built capacity for conflict. One of the few defences available to the landholder is the necessity for development proposals (such as mine development) to submit to an Environmental Impact Study (EIS). The EIS must be submitted to pertinent government agencies for approval and the approval itself is based on a demonstrated capacity to comply with a wide range of social, environmental and economic conditions or standards. For an EIS to comply it must satisfy the terms of reference issued in relation to a particular development proposal and these must reference all local, state and federal legislation relevant to a development proposal. Implicit in the term of reference is acceptance of the development proposal by those most affected – the existing residents. The Friends of Felton are not calling for a cessation to coal mining throughout Queensland. We appreciate that mining can benefit an area if it results in stronger demand for core factors of production (such as labour, land, water, etc) without demonstratively damaging the local environment and quality of life. At Felton, however, there is almost universal opposition to the entry and operation of mining. The district is highly viable the way it is – land values are strong (reflecting the productivity of the soils, the intensity of local agriculture and proximity to Toowoomba) and demand for all other factors of production, including labour, is also high. Moreover, the region is highly dependent on ground water and has no surplus supply capacity. In short, the Felton Coal Project cannot offer the local area any positives – only large, harmful and ugly negatives.

Loss of prime agricultural land

The Initial Advice Statement issued by Ambre Energy portends a very large open cut mining operation that would destroy all the natural and agricultural systems currently existing on the land surface. We contend that the prevailing system, incorporating high natural, commercial and social values, has far greater importance to the long term wellbeing of the nation than does this particular coal mine. In aggregate terms, Australia has very little ‘good quality agricultural land’ and yet the area nominated by Ambre Energy for destruction is amongst the very best in the nation. It is widely acknowledged that after open cut mining, the soil’s original capacity can never be restored given changes in soil structure leading to impaired water infiltration and potential for plant growth. The Friends of Felton believe it is unconscionable that a mining company can use its inherent advantages (possessed by virtue of large-scale, an aggressive coal industry lobby and Australian law) to overwhelm the best interests of climate change mitigation, the natural environment and the preferences of the local community. Accordingly we are placing heavy reliance on the comprehensive system of checks and balances, embedded in the EIS process, to expose all the risks and threats associated with the Ambre proposal. Also, we place particular reliance on the sovereignty of the Toowoomba Regional Council, which exists to uphold the express preferences of its constituency.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Australia has now ratified the Kyoto Protocol (for cutting greenhouse gases) and the government has already pledged to cut the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2050. The recent Garnaut Report said if Australia wants to be serious about saving the planet the reduction target should be up to 90%. Clearly it is time for the nation’s decision makers (at all levels) to draw a line in the sand. This means saying ‘no’ to coal mining proposals that are socially unacceptable because they are not welcome by the local community and because more coal will act to forestall the entry of more environmentally friendly modes of energy generation. It is not as if alternative modes do not exist – SE Queensland has abundant supplies of coal seam gas with Greenhouse Gas emission rates significantly below those for conventional oil production and refining.

Why ‘Clean Coal Demonstration’ at Felton?

Ambre is attempting to fast-track approval of their project by labelling it a ‘demonstration’ and by claiming it will produce the ‘perfect alternative fuel’. The fuel they are referring to is di-methyl ether (or DME) which is made from syngas derived from coal. In a recent press release, Ambre say that DME has only one downside of note viz, it still generates CO2 when combusted in a motor. In fact it has another downside in the form of massive pollution of the site at which the DME is actually produced – in this case the Felton Valley. To assist its case, Ambre might also claim to demonstrate coal CO2 sequestration (CCS). Our information is that the prospects for CO2 sequestration are less than remote before 2030. In any event, there are existing power stations better positioned to trial carbon sequestration and there are Cooperation Research Centres already working on all sorts of coal pollution mitigation. There is no obvious need for a coal mine at Felton to be demonstrating cutting edge technology – if indeed there are any prospects – and the Friends of Felton insist mining should not be allowed to proceed unless a cast iron guarantee can be given that all CO2 would be captured and then permanently and safely sequestered.

Effect on Surface and Underground Water

Stage 2 would need about 5,000 ML per annum of water for coal washing and related purposes. Since there is very little local water the project could acquire, it would have to ‘import’ its needs from other mines, or other waste water sources, located up to 100 km from the nominated site. Ambre’s Initial Advice Statement refers to piping coal seam methane water from the Dalby gas fields. This water is known to be salty and contaminated with other minerals. Use of this water at Felton would pollute the soils and headwaters of the Condamine – an important feeder for the Murray Darling Basin. The EIS must investigate the viability of accessing water from remote sources and should demonstrate no material impacts on downstream communities or to the natural environment associated with run-off. The proponent plans to build a levee bank on the western side of the Hodgson Creek to protect the mine and infrastructure from flooding and to collect runoff water for use by The Felton Coal Project. It also plans to build a large 10,000ML water storage dam. The building of these structures, which would be forbidden for agricultural purposes under the current moratorium, is likely to disrupt the hydrology of the local catchment leading to greatly increased flooding upstream of the project site. Recent flooding of mine sites in Central Queensland highlights the risk of contaminated water escaping into river systems. The EIS should also consider supply and quality threats to local groundwater since adjoining farms are highly dependent on this source for stock and domestic and for irrigation. Given the inter-connective nature of groundwater resources in the region, contamination and drawdown are real and significant threats to the water security.

Effect on rare and endangered species

The project would place at risk populations of a number of nationally and state-listed endangered native species and remnants of listed ecological communities either known to be or likely to be present in the Felton Valley. These include two ‘Endangered’ ecosystems, three ‘Endangered’ species and six ‘Vulnerable’ species which are listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and a further 22 locally-occurring species listed under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 as rare and threatened (see attached). We are advised that a further six species within the region are currently under review or of uncertain status, including Cymbonotus maideni, Picris barbarorum, Sophora fraseri, Teucrium argutum var. incisum, Senecio daltoni and Tephrosia bidwilli. The EIS must address the lack of comprehensive records for the area and must investigate both the direct and cumulative impact of this development and its associated infrastructure on at risk species and ecological communities, both locally and within the broader context of biodiversity protection.

Effect on Mt Kent Observatory

Mt Kent Observatory (MKO) is located on the eastern side of the Felton Valley, and is a joint facility involving the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), The University of Queensland, and more recently the University of Louisville, Kentucky, US, with whom USQ has a legal contract to provide remote access as part of a NASA-funded project. In addition to its operation as a research and teaching facility, MKO plans to offer live remote observing program for sick children in hospitals worldwide during 2009, the IAU/UNESCO "International Year of Astronomy". MKO is an officially designated dark-sky observatory (D02-5: Astronomical Society of Australia), and clean air and an absence of light pollution are crucial to its effective operation. There are concerns that the Felton Coal Project may represent a significant risk to exposed glass surfaces or coated mirrors and electronics, and may significantly compromise viewing due to light pollution, dust, air-borne particulates and chemical compounds.

Learning from Experiences

A previous foray into ‘synthetic oil’ production, inland from Gladstone, was a dismal failure and ended up costing the state government and the local community millions. The Stuart Oil Shale Project ceased operating less than ten years ago and took with it the YarwunTarginnie horticultural industry – comprising at its peak more than 170 households. For Stage 2 of the Stuart Oil Shale Project, an Economic Impact Study was commissioned as part of a larger Environmental Impact Study. The economic study was undertaken by the Canberra based consultancy ACIL (1999) and concluded that Stage 2 would generate regional benefits by expanding employment and would not adversely affect local agriculture. History has shown the ACIL assessment to be totally wrong. Even when it was operating, the Stuart Oil Shale Project was a small-scale employer and the Queensland government was eventually obliged to buy-out some local farmers. A study by Alliance Resource Economics in 2001 found that non-viable Yarwun-Targinnie farmers had become trapped in the area due to a total collapse in the rural land market. This collapse was brought about by high uncertainty regarding the sustainability of local agriculture following gradual industrialisation of the region culminating in entry of the oil shale mining and processing project.

Several lessons came out of the now defunct Stuart Oil Shale Project. The first is the capacity for uncontrolled externalities (such as dust, noise, vibration, odour and heavy traffic) to damage the productivity of adjoining rural industries, adversely affect the health and lifestyles of neighbours, raise road maintenance costs, increase the risk of traffic accidents and give rise to uncertainty that flows through to market confidence and land values. These are also the experiences of a number of Queensland local councils, as reported in a recent media release from the LGAQ (attached). Another lesson is the cost to investors and taxpayers when unproven technologies fail – either financially or because they eventually fall outside environmental standards. When this happens, both the investment and the associated resources become stranded leaving other parties (e.g. the local council and community) to ‘pick up the bill’. If Ambre were allowed to proceed but subsequently failed, the Felton community would be left with a scarred landscape, drained aquifers, a ruined creek and industrial skeletons. Given that DME production has no commercial track-record, the threats implicit in failure should be top-of-mind when the terms of reference are being developed for The Felton Coal Project EIS.

Economics

Assuming that the Felton Coal Project does not attract any public funding, the economic viability of the project is strictly a matter for the proponent. There will, however, still be economic impacts that the EIS must take into account. Most importantly, the study will have to allow for the opportunity losses associated with foregoing the income stream that is currently generated by crops and livestock on the affected area. This income stream will apply in perpetuity and it cannot be assumed that the stream will suddenly re-commence once the mining has finished and gone away. Thus current land prices (at which incumbent landholders would be bought out) might not fully reflect the opportunity losses going forward.

Loss of scenic amenity and reputation

The Felton Valley is currently distinguished by its unity, space, beauty, cleanliness and tranquillity. These qualities are part of our cultural heritage and the reputation of the Darling Downs. At times in the past, these values have been blithely dismissed in the name of ‘progress’. While communities have been struggling for years to express their wish that these and other natural values be preserved, our decision makers have been slow to ‘read the signs’ and to consciously pursue alternatives for satisfying the material necessities of life.

The Friends of Felton are under the impression that the EIS process of years past was a mere rubber stamp. We would like to think that those performed in 2008 or thereafter would be demonstratively rigorous, objective and independent. A point of difference we consider most relevant to future outcomes is the role of local government. By definition, local government is positioned to sense the core concerns of its constituency and rule accordingly. On this basis we wish to leave no room for doubt – the Felton community is implacably opposed to any proposal to mine coal in the Felton Valley. We believe this stance goes beyond our immediate interests – it also accounts for the interests of the wider community and the nation.

-o0o-

References

ACIL (1999) Economic Impacts of Stage 2 of the Stuart Oil Shale Project, Canberra. Alliance Resource Economics (2001) Economic Future of the Yarwun-Targinnie Horticultural, Pastoral and Allied Industries, Brisbane .
Ambre Energy Ltd (2008) Felton Hybrid Energy Project: Initial Advice Statement .
Diesendorf, M. 2006 Can geosequestration save the coal industry? in J Byrne, Leigh Glover and Noah Toly (eds) Transferring Power as a Social Project Vol 9 Energy and Environmental Policy Series.
LGAQ media release 31 August 2007 “Mining Boom a Bust for Local Councils” http://www.lgaq.asn.au/LGOnline/includes/printthispage.jsp?path=/lg aq/newsReleases/2007/miningsoured.html&banner=1&circular=0&publishD ate=

News Release - Mining Boom a Bust for Local Councils

The resources boom has soured for Queensland’s rural and regional councils facing higher infrastructure costs, less economic benefits than in previous booms and widespread community disruption, delegates to the Local Government Association of Queensland’s 111th annual conferences at the Gold Coast heard today. Mayors and councilors from several towns in mining areas warned that high expectations of economic boom times had been replaced by disquiet and disapproval as 12-hour shifts worked over four consecutive days, fly-in, fly-out employment or variations such as drive in or bus in and out meant that communities were left with costs but no benefits. Road safety impacts were becoming horrific as miners who worked long shifts got into their cars to race back to families living elsewhere because there was no family accommodation available in towns near the mines. Despite the lack of housing, people should be cautious about investing in accommodation in expectation of high returns. “They need to realise how unsustainable mining towns are when there is a downturn,” Gladstone City Council’s director of commercial and community services, Cale Dendle, said. He urged councils to engage early with mining companies: “In small communities, people know when strangers are in town punching holes in the ground and then the rumour mill starts.” He said companies were not obliged to talk to councils or the community and often did not want to. It was up to councils to monitor licenses to prospect and mining approvals issued by the state and to let their communities know what was happening and get involved as soon as possible so that issues like housing, education, and economic imposts were built into the terms of reference for the EIS process. Several mayors also voiced concerns that mines producing under $2 million tonnes are not required to lodge an EIS. “We’ve been told in these cases local people can tell from the beginning, just by looking at the equipment coming in, that companies intend to ramp up production once approvals are in place,” Mr Dendle said. However he said while councils had little power in regard to the terms of impact statements and none on mine approval processes, they could use rates as a resource to pay for additional infrastructure costs for water, roads, sewerage and other services. A study on behalf of Bowen Basin mayors has proposed differential rating systems based on the numbers of people working on the mine site and rates paid on other commercial and industrial properties with similar numbers of employees. They could also consider special rates for use of council roads. ENDS. Local Government Association of Queensland LGAQ House, 25 Evelyn Street, Newstead Qld 4006 Contact Phone Fax Mobile Email Cr Paul Bell AM, President, LGAQ 3000 2222 3252 4473 0418 791 596 president@lgaq.asn.au 9

Friends of Felton Report 13 May 2008

2008-05-18T16:35:00.000-07:00

Friends of Felton Report

Massive Mine Planned for Felton

The Friends of Felton public meeting on 13th May heard that the planned production of the proposed Felton Mine could be four times that of the Acland Mine north of Oakey.

The thought of a Felton Mine four times the size of Acland was very concerning for all at the meeting, and it was felt that the surrounding communities were unlikely to be aware of the scale of this proposed enterprise. There are plenty of unanswered questions about pollution, environmental damage and the effect on water supplies causing concerns.

Friends of Felton will be meeting with the Toowoomba Regional Council members to inform them of the issues and discuss the powers of the planning legislation.

Friends of Felton will be present at both of the World Environment Day functions in Toowoomba on the 1st June, with information available for the public and a petition to sign.

A photographic display is being collated showing the richness and beauty of the Felton Valley, and this will be accompanied by a DVD with excellent photos of the threatened area.

The meeting voiced strong concern about a Young Nationals conference motion in support of the mine, which seemed very much at odds with the views of the local National party MP’s. Ray Hopper’s press release of 28 April, which strongly backed the importance of retaining the Felton farmland, is totally against this motion, and the group will make further representation to the National Party MP’s concerning this matter.

Various options to increase awareness about the potential mine and hybrid energy plant were discussed and will be reported on as they occur.

This weeks slogan is SAVE FELTON FOR FARMING, FELTON CAN FARM FOR EVER

The next meeting will be on the 27th May at 7pm at the Felton Hall : all welcome

15th April 2008 Report

2008-04-30T00:18:00.000-07:00

Friends of Felton Report

The main discussion point at the Friends of Felton public meeting held on 15th April was the change of plans by Ambre Energy.

Chair of Friends of Felton, Rob McCreath, was contacted last week by Ambre Energy to inform him of their change of direction. Ambre’s original plans were to base the infrastructure for crude oil, DME and gas production on the eastern side of Hodgson Creek.

Friends of Felton understand that Ambre are now planning to set up an initial demonstration plant on the western side of Hodgson Creek to make DME (dimethyl ether) and some gas for the power plant, but no crude oil. They plan to mine less coal (0.75 million tonnes per year) for the first 3 years before ramping up the mining operation to the originally planned 12 million tonnes of coal per year. Ambre want to set this plant up to prove the process, and rename the project as the “Felton Clean Coal Demonstration Project”.

The concerns of the Friends of Felton were not eased by this news at all, especially as feedback received suggests that governmental authority to start the project may be more forthcoming for these initial demonstration plans.

Visitors to the meeting, Friends of the Earth representatives, pointed out that Ambre’s plans to store carbon dioxide underground as a trial and check for leaks was very risky. The carbon capture and storage technology is untested at this stage, and Friends of Felton have no desire to be the guinea pigs in such an experiment.

This week’s slogan is KEEP FELTON GREEN - COAL ISN’T CLEAN

The next public meeting will be held on Tuesday 29th April at the Felton Hall, starting at 7pm. All are welcome to attend.