Envirowiki is now multi lingual! Check out Envirowiki Meta for the full list of languages!
Anvil Hill
From Envirowiki
Contents |
[edit] Environmental Value
Anvil Hill, and it's surrounding area is a unique ecological community, being the last large stand of valley floor bushland in the Hunter, at around 2000 hectares. It is home to a number of threatened species, and at least one as yet unnamed species of Orchid. It is also a vital part of the catchment of the Wybong Creek catchment, which flows to the hunter valley and is used by many residents, and innumerable native animals and plants.
[edit] Coal Mine Proposal
the Coal mine proposal, were it to go ahead, would completely destroy 1200 hectares of the bushland area, severely impact on the water catchment, both in quality and quantity, as well as increase Australia's impact on climate change through fugitive emissions and the huge amount of coal being dug up. The mine would move some 50 families off their land, and have a huge impact on the local horse studs and wineries, which provide more jobs to locals than the mine ever will.
the proposed mine would be the largest in the hunter valley, at a maximum of 10.5 million tonnes of black coal per year, for around 20 years. some of this would be for domestic consumption, but most would be for export.
the Environmental Assesment for the mine is expected to be release in early-mid september 2006.
As the coal produced is mostly for export, the Anvil Hill proposal relies heavily on the Newcastle Coal Export Terminal expansion. As such, Centennial Coal is part of the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group
[edit] Anvil Hill Campaign
Main article at Anvil Hill campaign
Centennial's mine proposal is being fought by a large alliance of environmental groups and individuals, as well as other individuals. the campaign has won a number of small victories, including Peter Gray's landmark victory in the NSW Land and Environment Court, but the final result is still completely up in the air.
[edit] interesting facts
The anvil hill region, and an area stretching north and south of it, were the only parts of the Hunter valley to have the image resolution of the area increased in the latest update of Google Earth (mid 2006). this area is the largest unmined area of the upper hunter.
