Push for Mudgee coal haulage ban
Posted
Moves are afoot to ban the future rail haulage of coal through Mudgee.
A Mid Western Regional councillor, Sue Pascoe, will tonight ask the council to support her notice of motion calling for the adoption of a policy opposing coal trains travelling through the town.
She says with the expanding coal industry, it is inevitable mining companies and the New South Wales Government will look at using the railway to transport coal.
Councillor Pascoe says such a practice would pose health, noise and dust risks.
"You are going to have uncovered coal trucks going through," she said.
"Coal can't be covered, because of the heat generation, you're going to have the coal dust just wafting all over the town, I mean white sheets in the line will be spotted with black coal dust, the kids will be out playing on their equipment with grubby little hands, plus there's the health risk of coal dust."
Cr Pascoe is lobbying for the State Government to build a rail bypass around the town.
At the moment no trains use the line, but there are efforts to have it reopened for passenger rail.
Cr Pascoe says while the district's mines provide jobs and economic benefits, she is worried residents' lifestyle and health will be jeopardised if coal is hauled through the town.
"The existing rail is not up to standard and would need a significant amount spent on it to bring it up to the required standard, so why not build a new line, bypassing our towns and villages instead of spending money doing up this line anyway," she said.
