Uproar Over Margaret River Coal Mine Plans

Locals in the world class Margaret River wine region in western Australia are protesting furiously over plans by two companies to build an underground coal mine 15 km from the town.

American Metals & Coal International, Inc and Australia's Core Coal are currently assessing feasibility of a coal mine but are running into community and political roadblocks.

The member for Vasse Troy Buswell is also opposing the project that LD Operations wanted to start in Osmington which is agricultural area some distance away from Margaret River town site. The Greens independent MP Adele Carles also met the opponents of the mine on the weekend.

The state premier Colin Barnett said that the government is pro-mining but does recognise the conflict of interest in the area. He was speaking at a regional cabinet meeting in Kalgoorlie when he mentioned that the state government would give consideration to special legislature to protect the Margaret River area.

He was thinking along the lines of legislation that were put into place in the 1990s to protect the Swan Valley. Initially Mr Barnett had said that the mine proponents had legal rights to pursue the project and get environmental approval as well.