Cowra faces mining battle

Oct 1, 2008

The conflicting interests of miners and farmers are increasingly becoming an issue for many country towns, as wealthy mining companies buy up large tracts of land.

The area between Cowra and Grenfell in central-western New South Wales is traditional sheep, cattle and farming country.

But that is slowly changing as mining companies move in to dig up valuable metals.

Landholders near the Broula King gold mine south-west of Cowra are worried about the environmental impacts.

They claim the tailings dam for the mine is situated on a ridge above the Tyagong valley and creeks, which feed into the Murray Darling basin.

Farmer Harry Howard says Cowra residents are concerned they will be left with the environmental damage once the mine packs up and leaves.

"One of the problems is that it's quite a steep slope down towards Tyagong creek which flows into the Burragarong, so it's effectively in the Murray Darling system and the potential for acid mine drainage and cyanates leaching into the waterway are quite significant," he said.

"When the mine's gone in two years, we'll be left with this legacy forever."

Danny Withers lives 200 metres from the mine site.

He is worried about water drying up in his bore and the noise from the blasting.

He also says the mine has not offered to buy him out or compensate his family.

"We approached the mine manager and he said he was a miner not a real estate agent," he said...

Based on a report by Brigid Glanville for ABC Radio's AM