Farmers make stand against mine

FIGHTING FOR FARMS: Wandoan farmers protesting against coal seam gas and coal mines in Roma recently.

WANDOAN farmers making a stand against mining and coal seam gas (CSG) projects feel the resources boom is out of control.

About 20 farmers are still in negotiations with mining giant Xstrata, which is now pushing ahead with its $6 billion Wandoan coal project after staring down the Federal Government on its 40% resources super profits tax.

Farmer John Erbacher, a member of the recently formed Wandoan Clean Food Alliance which has about 30 members, said he was upset the State Government was not enforcing conditions of the mining lease on Xstrata and regulations on the exploding CSG industry.

Mr Erbacher, whose 991-hectare property is in the middle of the Xstrata mining lease, said the alliance wanted legislation to provide protection to the food-producing capacity of the region.

Members of the alliance attended a Roma community cabinet meeting where Mr Erbacher said he was told recently announced government compliance officers were not yet advertised.

“It will be six months before they start – with what's happened in the last six months in the next six months there will be an awful mess,” Mr Erbacher said. “They have a notice of entry and feel they can do what they want.”

He said he had had issues with weeds being brought on his property and CSG had issues with salty toxic water discharges.

“(They've) turned easygoing farmers into angry advocates for reform to the Acts covering the mining and gas industries.”

“This exploration is out of control.

“Countless generations of families producing clean safe food is being sacrificed for 30 years of financial gain.”

Another farmer Daryl Waugh, who at 60 thought he had 10 more years on his property which is also in the lease, called for a halt in the “avalanche of applications with CSG and coal mines”.

“The government has got to say slow down,” Mr Waugh said.

He said he had never seen any good examples of mining land being rehabilitated.

“50 years of greed for hundreds of years of destruction,” he said. “I think our great great grandchildren will wonder why did the old buggers let that happen.”

Cattle farmer Alan Postle, 56, said he was sick of the long, drawn-out process by Xstrata to buy his 522ha property which is closest to the lease.

“We're not moving,” Mr Postle said. “They are not an ethical firm.

“They try all the practices under the sun to wear people down.”

Pat Delvin, also a member of the alliance who attended a recent protest at Parliament House in Brisbane, said he did not want to leave his property, which is on the edge of the mine.