This is part of the Stratford Coal Mine. It was started in 1995 and was due to close in 2003. Instead of getting ready to close, Gloucester Coal is now intending to expand its mining operations and another company has been granted exploration licence to explore for more coal in the Gloucester basin. Read more about Proposed Coal Exploration.

Not only does Gloucester Coal want the coal under the district, the AGL company (formerly Molopo/Lucas) are also exploring for Gas. Read more about Proposed Gas Exploration.

In addition to this, there are other companies mining and extending their exploration along all our major river and creek systems, which would dig up some of the most sensitive environmental areas, near World Heritage and National Park areas. Read more about Proposed Ruby Exploration.

Limestone Mining
Duralie Coal has a high sulphur content leading to sulphuric acid in the run off water and this has to be neutralised by large quantities of lime. Barrington Lime have a mine which is only 6km from Gloucester. Local residents have expressed concern about the increase in industrial traffic with up to 10 trucks daily, passing local properties.

Gold Mining
Recent rises in gold prices have triggered three new exploration licence areas which have just been granted covering nearly 200 sq kms around Bowman River, Cobark River and Copeland Creek

How much mining can one small community take?

When we only had one or two small mines, some members of the community felt that they represented just another economic activity which supplemented the local economy.

Now it is clear that because of the extent of proposed mining, the effects of proposed mining methods and the intention to take over all the most valuable land, mining companies will not only supplement the local economy. They intend to REPLACE the local economy
[see What Do We Have? What Will We Lose]

The Barrington-Gloucester-Stroud area contains some of the best farming land in the country and is famous for beef, dairyfarming and many boutique and hobby farms. In addition, it is a favourite tourist destination for weekend and holiday visitors from Sydney and Newcastle who enjoy the wilderness, camping, canoeing and 4WD tours - just having a beautiful place to get away from it all.

From all this, it would seem that both locals and visitors have much more to lose from digging up and ruining the existing environment than the negligible gains from mining. Many of the people employed by the mines are not locals and the money does not stay in the local community. The long term damage they do to the river flats, water tables, roads, fragile habitats and local tourism will be felt by the locals who remain here long after the miners have pillaged and left.

Do you know how far the exploration is going? CLICK ON THE MAP to see a bigger version of the proposed exploration areas - it may be closer than you think. Don't forget that these rivers flow all the way to the coast - if they still flow after being dug up! We don't want our district ruined like other areas in NSW already have been.


What Do We Have?
Barrington-Gloucester-Stroud is an integrated community. It has a range of food producing rural industries supporting domestic & export trade, commercial activities, a growing residential situation, public and private services and a thriving tourist industry. This is a healthy, wealth producing economy. We have a relatively, favoured climate which will continue to produce food when other parts of the state decline under the impact of climate change.

The mining companies are targeting the main production of tourist areas. If it succeeds with its planned expansion, it will replace the land uses which sustain our economy.

This must cause depopulation

A limited industrial economy will replace a sustainable far more valuable sustainable economy. This economic folly compounds the undemocratic ignoring of a community's wishes.

We Need A Full Evaluation

A complete economic, commercial lifestyle, residential, environmental impact study will show that the present community's economy is far more valuable than the mining economy. All mining exploration and expansion must be suspended until the study is completed.

Please read more about the proposed mining by clicking through the sections listed on the left. If you don't want the district ruined, please join the fight in whatever way you can.