Can you beleive it? Rio Tinto still want to extend the open-cut coal mine near Bulga NSW.

A defiant Rio Tinto are still attempting to push ahead with the extension of the open-cut coal mine near Bulga in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales.   

Sydney Law Courts

Multinational mining company Rio Tinto is defying the verdict of the Supreme Court which upheld the earlier decision by  the Land and Environment Court to not allow for the Mt Thorley Warkorth mine extension. 

Bulga is a beautiful little village, a tiny haven of 350 people who sadly reside at the gate of the Hunter Valley Mine Expansion program of New South Wales, Australia.

The Supreme Court verdict did not seem to faze Rio Tinto.  They say they are simply going to submit another development application under the new controversial planning laws and attempt to steam roll this through regardless of the process of law.

Last year when Planning minister Hazzard took no notice of the Land and Environment Court decision and sided with Rio Tinto against the people, it left many people in New South Wales with no other option but to see the reality of the political arena today.   The arena is clearly a corrupt and filthy paddock of play with no place for the views of the people or the courts, it is the haunt of of the corrupt, the greedy and the inhumane.

Rio Tinto saying no matter what we will still go ahead despite the ruling is "Genocide via Ecocide".

The supreme court cited the expected economic benefits of the expansion did not justify its environmental impacts.  Residents have already been driven mad with dust and particulate issues that Rio Tinto already do nothing about.  The noise is already deafening and any thought of doubling this is just not justifiable.

Bulga Residents Protesting at the Law Courts in Sydney

 If allowed to proceed, Rio Tinto  will destroy the land that was previously set aside as compensation.  This set aside land contains endangered eco systems and it was clear at the onset this land was compensation for the earlier destruction of land compliments of the present mine at Warkworth near Bulga NSW. 

To even entertain such a notion about the set aside land is not ethical business and it is a clear misrepresentation of the the parameters of truth presented to get the earlier Development Applications.

This type of thinking is not logical or practical as there are no long term benefits in such short term thinking.

Demand Rio Tinto respects the rulings of both the Supreme and NSW Land and Environment Court.

Please sign the petition and tell mining giant Rio Tinto not to extend its polluting open-cut coal mine.   HERE  at Petition Site.  It may not be what stops it but it just might help.

Follow the story further with the ABC Here 

Judgment Summary Supreme Court New South Wales

Court of Appeal  7 April 2014

Warkworth Mining Limited and Anor v Bulga Milbrodale ProgressAssociation Inc [2014] NSWCA 105

Bathurst CJ, Beazley P and Tobias AJA

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

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