There seems to be a divide between people that work for the coal industry in Emerald and those that don’t.

It has been interesting talking to people employed in various types of work and we’re looking forward to the public meeting on Sunday night at the Town Hall.

We had a public meeting organised for us in Mt Larcom, a small town close to Gladstone. Their main concerns were the noise pollution from the heavy train traffic and the land acquisition for the expansion of the train line.

While on a tour of the Port of Gladstone we came across a spillage from the line of loaders – this was identified as ’sump’

Our public meeting in Gladstone had a wide array of opinions and people including a councillor, deputy mayor, plain clothed police officer, PR representative from the Gladstone Port Corporation & a high school student.

The severe storm on the night of the 20th with hail the size of softballs mobilised the SES and members of the community into a big clean-up the next day.

Some people we spoke to connected unusual storms like this with climate change and worried that more could happen in the future.

Unprecedented expansion of coal exploration and development across the state has prompted an innovative investigation of the social, economic and environmental effects of the coal industry on the lives of everyday Queenslanders, by everyday Queenslanders.

Listening in Gladstone

The Brisbane-based community group Six Degrees launched the Coal Communities Listening Project on 17th November in Gladstone.

The group is leaving Gladstone today with a better understanding of the community’s attitudes towards the coal industry and climate change.

“Most of the people we spoke to said that the coal industry brought money and jobs to the local economy, but many were also affected by coal dust and air pollution” said Bradley Smith, the project spokesperson.

“While many people believe that pollution is part-and-parcel of living in Gladstone, others had hopes that community groups could work together to create a cleaner future for the city.”

Today the tour will move on to Blackwater and then to Emerald, Alpha, Wandoan and Chinchilla, all areas which are currently experiencing the impacts of coal expansion.

In each location, “Listening Posts” will be set up in a variety of public spaces, where local residents will be able to share their views, concerns and ideas with trained volunteers.

Upcoming Public Meetings

• Emerald, Sunday 23rd November, Town Hall, Supper Room, Egerton Street, 6pm
• Alpha, Tuesday 25th Nov, Town Hall, 6pm
• Wandoan, Thursday 27th November, Bowls club, Leichhardt Highway, 6pm
• Chinchilla, Friday 28th November, The Club Hotel, 131 Heeney St, 6pm

Key Findings from Gladstone & Mt Larcom

• The responses around Gladstone were very diverse
• Benefits of the coal industry were jobs and boost to the local economy
• Major concerns were coal dust and air pollution
• In Mt Larcom the expansion of infrastructure, noise pollution and health effects of air pollution were major concerns
• With regard to industry in general, some in the community adopted the sentiment that if people don’t like it they shouldn’t live here
• Many of those spoken to were somewhat concerned about climate change citing impacts such as sea level rise and melting polar ice caps

The will be a public meeting on the 28th at the Club Hotel at 6pm

Join us for a public BBQ at the Bowls Club starting at 6pm. Bring a plate of food to share if you can.

Come along to the public meeting at the Town Hall in Tennyson St at 6pm.

Come along to the meeting on Sunday at the Town Hall – in the Supper Room at 6pm where we will be reporting back on what we’ve heard so far.