More than 100 people rallied in Martin Place on August 8 to say “No” to Glencore’s bid to expand its coal mines in the Hunter Valley in New south Wales.
The protest, organised by Lock the Gate (LTG) NSW, was supported by the Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends and other environment organisations.
Bernie Hobbs, Knitting Nanna and former ABC science presenter, MCed the protest, and the choir was led by Suze Pratten.
The Hunter Valley Operation (HVO) Open Cut Coal Continuation Project, located 24 kilometres northwest of Singleton, consists of two open-cut coal mine sites — HVO North and HVO South — separated by the Hunter River. It is a joint venture between Yancoal (51%) and Glencore (49%).
Scott Franks, a leader of the Wonnarua Aboriginal Nation, spoke about the struggles of the indigenous peoples of the Hunter Valley for land rights and against Glencore’s HVO proposal. He said it would further threaten Aboriginal communities and the climate.
LTG’s Nick Clyde condemned the Chris Minns Labor government for continuing to push for more coal mines, especially the catastrophic HVO projects, which are being assessed by the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC).
LTG said the HVO project aims to dig enormous coal pits right beside the Hunter River. It worsens climate change worse by locking in about 800 million tonnes of climate pollution — seven times the annual pollution of the entire state.
Jeanette Hunter, a climate activist from Muloobinba/Newcastle, spoke about her experience with the disastrous bushfires, the result of climate change. She was a key witness to the IPC hearing on HVO, recounting the disastrous impacts of climate-induced fire emergencies on the health of children, the elderly and disabled people.
Two representatives from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and Nic Seton, CEO of Australian Parents for Climate, also spoke, including giving information about pollution from coal mines and how climate change drives higher grocery bills.
NSW cannot afford any more extensions for polluting coal mine projects, including HVO, the speakers said.