THE Shenhua Watermark mine has captured the attention of the country.
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The announcement of the federal government decision to approve the mine yesterday was met with an avalanche of social media protests.
“Shenhua” skyrocketed to the top trending tweet.
RELATED COVERAGE: Shenhua showdown
But amid the tidal wave of outrage, there were a few hardy souls who welcomed the decision. Now that’s an opinion that can’t have been easy to express.
There are legitimate concerns about this mine.
It is a huge open-cut mine owned by a foreign company close to prime agricultural land. It is a sad time for those who have seen farmland in the area go from generation to generation.
And those farmers who remain are understandably fearful for the water, the air and the soil that has sustained and clothed so many people for so long.
Farmers have joined in an unlikely alliance with environmentalists and Aboriginal representatives to try to stop this mine.
No matter what the scientists came up with, there will never be a way to ease people’s minds until they see for themselves exactly what this mine means.
But amid the national wail against this project, we need to keep in mind that this is our issue. It is not the issue of protesters in Melbourne or Sydney, some of whom have never set foot on this country.
This is an issue for the Breeza and Gunnedah areas and people should not be afraid to make their opinions known – whether they be for or against this mine.
It can be counter-productive to be used as a test case for the rest of the nation.
If we have concerns, let’s concentrate on those concerns rather than make this about mining in general. It appears the mine is a fait accompli despite the best efforts of those who do not want it.
There are a few outstanding approvals to go, but let’s face it, the Shenhua Watermark mine is going to proceed.
This area will need to address its concerns by keeping a very close eye on the progress of the mine and all it brings with it.
And of course there are many who see this as a positive thing for our community. It brings employment and growth. These are also legitimate local opinions and no one should be afraid to make them heard.
While this issue could divide a nation, let’s not let it divide a shire.
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