Whilst the Senate Enquiry into the Impacts of Mining in the Murray Darling Basin hears personal submissions on Monday in Gunnedah, BHP’s latest ‘stakeholders report’ declares that “While BHP Billiton would consider long wall mining only under the ridge country, it may make sense for some deep underground roadways to be under the area where the floodplains meet the ridges.”

Clearly the intention is now to ‘tunnel’ between the three ridges under the floodplain to get the coal out to a common (surface based) loader (bye, bye Doona State Forest).  Any such ‘tunnels’ will also go under the Mooki River and Quirindi Creek. No mention of their fate in the latest report.  (Mining companies don’t have a good track record under rivers and creeks…)

At least BHP finally acknowledge our “high value agricultural land”
[and] “regional ground water systems”.  It’s a start.  We look forward to the independent, catchment-wide water study identifying the critical part our Recharge Ridges also play within this vital MDB catchment.