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Stateline: Proposed coal mine raises environmental issues

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Stateline: Proposed coal mine raises environmental issues

SUBJECTS:  Geography

YEARS:  9–10


Explore the possible benefits and impacts to the environment and community of a proposed new coal mine, called the Wallarah 2 Coal Project.

In this clip from late June 2013, find out some viewpoints that landowners, community members, mine representatives and politicians present about the proposed underground mine.


Things to think about

  1. 1.What are some of the ways a coal mine could potentially change the environment? Would these changes be sustainable or would they have long-term, far-reaching implications for the future? Make a list suggesting some of the people and organisations who might support a new coal mine, then make a list of some who might oppose it. What reasons might they all have for their views?
  2. 2.Listen to the concerns of the two landowners in the clip. What do they raise as the main expected effects on their land? Mining company representative Peter Smith says impact on farmland will be minimal. What does he say the company will do in an attempt to alleviate concerns? What things has the mining company offered to 'win the hearts and minds' of the community?
  3. 3.Describe the views expressed by various members of the community, government and mining sectors regarding the environmental changes associated with the Wallarah 2 Coal Project. Include how these people think the changes should be managed. Would you agree or disagree that the clip questions the politicians' motivations for supporting or opposing the mine? Why?
  4. 4.There is debate around coal as a clean source of fuel in Australia and in other parts of the world. Coal mining is under the spotlight. What are some other human-led practices that cause environmental changes and are similarly controversial? What sustainability challenges do they pose for the local or global environment?



Date of broadcast: 28 Jun 2013


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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