Fears for mine takeover of Wandoan

MINE TAKEOVER? The Greens have sparked fears the Wandoan township could be bought out and bulldozed to expand Xstrata's Wandoan Coal Project

THE Greens have sparked fears the Wandoan township could be bought out and bulldozed to expand Xstrata's Wandoan Coal Project, just like Acland in the Darling Downs.

Greens leader Bob Brown – speaking in Acland last week with the town's last resident – said other towns would end up like it, bought out by a surrounding mine to expand the mine through the town.

“Felton (another Darling Downs town) is earmarked next, so is Wandoan,” Senator Brown said.

“The balance is lost.

“There are more mouths to feed and less farming land.

“The big miners in the city are taking over places like Acland, Felton and Wandoan, which is where we get our food or the fibre on our back.”

Senator Brown said country people were “being picked on by the big miners”.

Last week, Central Telegraph reported on farmers taking a stand against mining and coal seam gas exploration in the Wandoan district.

An Xstrata spokesperson confirmed it had contacted landholders in the Wandoan district about Xstrata Coal's plans for a new mining lease application (MLA) in the area west of the current Wandoan Coal Project's boundaries.

“Speculation regarding an Acland-like arrangement is incorrect,” the spokesperson said.

“We have contacted and offered to meet with affected landholders regarding the proposed MLA, to help ensure landowners understand our plans and how it may affect them and their property.

“Xstrata Coal will progress the pre-feasibility planning of the next stage of development for these areas, once a number of new mining lease applications are lodged with the Queensland Government.”

Wandoan farmer John Erbacher, a member of the Wandoan Clean Food Alliance that was set up to protect farming land and push for stringent regulations on the mining boom, did fear for a town takeover by Xstrata.

“They keep saying ‘no' but you just have to look at Acland,” Mr Erbacher said.

“The people have to stand up and say if they want a farming town or a mining town,” he said.

“It becomes a purely economic thing as to what the coal under the town is worth.”