Hi Everyone!

Firstly thanks for your continuing support in getting the message out. We are now at over 700 supporters in less than 48 hours which is such a great beginning! 

We had a great turn out last night with over 200 people showing up to the public meeting at the Mudgee Showground. We made the news too - check out this article by the Australian Associated Press.

We had great engagement from the audience and went over time by about 45 minutes. We heard from Sue Higginson – Greens MP – talk about how the previous Liberal governments in pushing a mining extraction strategy to get more revenue, found the loophole in planning laws to cancel out merits-based appeals against mine development by using the Independent Planning Commission Hearings.  She also advised us as to what we could be doing to address and lobby Government as part of our strategy.

There was a lot of interested concern when we heard from Jemma Green - Cadia Community Sustainability Network – regarding the contamination of tank water and health issues likely produced by the tailings dust arising from the Cadia Mine. We also heard about the travesty of the EPA only being able to fine a maximum of $15,000 for breaches. Many people I spoke to afterwards were watching the presentation and thinking "this could be the Mudgee Region in the future unless we stop the mine". People didn’t realise just how far tailings dust can travel with a strong wind behind it and how much of the Mudgee region could be impacted if this were to happen.

Finally there was some hope gained from hearing Julie Lyford, former Mayor of Gloucester, talk about their long battles and ultimate win against AGL, and how we could do the same for the Mudgee Region and what that would entail.

We had a great uptake of more than 50 people signing up to join our Volunteer Groups and people are being very generous in supporting us through our GoFundMe page so we can fight the legal battles to come.

Please keep sharing our story and encouraging your networks to sign up. For change to happen, we need our VOICE to be heard.

Find out more about what we are doing and more background on Bowdens Toxic Lead Mine. Their Profit. Our Loss! here.