Four NSW Central West councils are gathering to create a mining trail tourism route.
The original proposal, developed by Rio Tinto’s Northparkes underground miner, persuades visitors to see mine sites around Orange, Parkes, West Wyalong and Cobar, according to the ABC.
Tourism managers from the four councils met yesterday to investigate the idea. Katrina Dwyer, Parkes’ tourism manager, explained that there is a growing interest for mining based travel.
"It's becoming a real topic for people to become interested in," she said.
"Not only just self drive tourists but also school groups. So it's really good education, looking into the history of mining and the impact it has on the region and also how current mine sites operate and the spin off benefits they have for communities."
The Central West has looked to increase its number of tourists recently, but have labelled the lack of accommodation as a major point in developing the region, and in luring new residents as part of the EvoCities initiative.
source
Thursday, June 23, 2011
WA ‘COAL RUSH’ THREAT
Anti-coal lobbyists in Western Australia are warning that Esperance may be threatened by a coal rush.
Currently, Blackham Resources has announced a 20% increase in its potential resource at its Scaddan coal to liquids project, according to the ABC.
The miner believes it will now have the potential to produce more than 860 million barrels of oil equivalent and is planning to carry out a feasibility study for the project.
However, the NO COALalition convener Brent Watson believes the Esperance community should begin a campaign similar to that which his group carried out in the Margaret River region.
“Don't forget we are talking about the first part of the first mine, for the first coal miner, we are talking about the precedent, you are talking about the beginning of the coal rush,” he said.
Esperance Shire president Ian Mickel said that while the resource increase will have an impact on the area, there were not a lot of downsides to the coal-to-liquids process.
“There are limited concerns as the mine does not have sensitive properties and jobs will be created in the process,” he told the Esperance Express.
The Margaret River region has been a battle ground over the last few months as coal miner LD Operations, which has put applications forward to explore and mine in the region, has seen protests against the proposal.
source
Currently, Blackham Resources has announced a 20% increase in its potential resource at its Scaddan coal to liquids project, according to the ABC.
The miner believes it will now have the potential to produce more than 860 million barrels of oil equivalent and is planning to carry out a feasibility study for the project.
However, the NO COALalition convener Brent Watson believes the Esperance community should begin a campaign similar to that which his group carried out in the Margaret River region.
“Don't forget we are talking about the first part of the first mine, for the first coal miner, we are talking about the precedent, you are talking about the beginning of the coal rush,” he said.
Esperance Shire president Ian Mickel said that while the resource increase will have an impact on the area, there were not a lot of downsides to the coal-to-liquids process.
“There are limited concerns as the mine does not have sensitive properties and jobs will be created in the process,” he told the Esperance Express.
The Margaret River region has been a battle ground over the last few months as coal miner LD Operations, which has put applications forward to explore and mine in the region, has seen protests against the proposal.
source
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