18 December 2008
A $160,000 study into the cumulative impact of mining on Muswellbrook has been criticised for failing to consider the health impacts of the multibillion-dollar industry.
The Australian Coal Association Research Program-commissioned report primarily investigated how coalmining had affected employment and economic conditions, visual amenity, water quality and social conditions in Muswellbrook.The report's authors, based at the University of Queensland, said they were unable to extend the study to include the health impacts of mining."Because of the need to take a selective approach, the study did not investigate other issues which are potentially salient in the Muswellbrook context," the study, An Exploratory Study of Coal Mining in the Muswellbrook Area of NSW, said.The omission has angered those who have been lobbying for years to have a population study done into the health impacts of mining."It's a huge issue," Muswellbrook councillor Christine Phelps said.Minewatch president Wendy Bowman said the group was circulating a petition among local businesses calling for a health study."They are coming back with 'sinus, asthma, cancer, cough' written all over them," she said. The report found the positive impacts of mining were increased employment and wealth, increased community benefits, expanding mine-related business and increased knowledge of safety.The main negative impacts were decreased visual amenity, adverse social changes, such as the gap between haves and have nots, increasing noise and vibration and decreasing air quality.
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