On 1st Sep 2008 the Queensland Government issued a Mineral Development Licence for coal to the wholly Queensland Government owned Tarong Energy Corporation over the iconic Haystack Road farmlands.
Harvest has begun on the Haystack Plain which has once again been favoured with a bountiful crop. This may truly be our last harvest on this inherently fertile farmland. Tarong Energy, this week confirmed in writing that they will be taking their assets (our farmland) to the market in early 2009.
Minister for Mines & Energy Hon Geoff Wilson MP, last week stated that there is no need for new legislation to protect iconic farmland. Without new legislation there is no legal reason why Tarong Energy can not sell their asset (our farmland) to another company that will surely exploit the coal resource. At our expense the Queensland treasury will celebrate their one off win fall through the sale of their asset, (our farmland) but never again will the Haystack Plain produce a bountiful crop!
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=669lsVI4Zrc
Website: www.coal4breakfast.com.au
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.