FEBRUARY 23, 2016 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
(Shawn Smits)
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Rust buckets or treasure trove? Ray Meadows is gearing up to get old tractors spick and span. The Ballan man is treasurer of Ballan District Vintage Machinery and Vehicle Club and works with 60 other blokes to restore old machinery, including trucks, tractors and shearing plants. The club is holding its annual swap-meet next weekend so people can meet other like-minded enthusiasts, sell their old machinery and buy pre-loved parts. “Some of the machines we restore are used only for demonstration,” Mr Meadows said. “But others we also use.” The market will open at 7am on Saturday, March 4, at the Ballan racecourse, 285 Racecourse Road. Stalls cost $20 and entry is $5. Details: 5368 1177. Sumeyya Ilanbey
Mine ‘devastation’ feared Environmental activists fear Moorabool farming, health and water could be at risk if a mining exploration licence for a coal project in Bacchus Marsh is renewed. The exploration licence of mining companies Mantle Mining and Exergen for the 154square-kilometre Bacchus Marsh Coal Project is set to expire next month. Mantle Mining confirmed to Star Weekly last week that a renewal application had been lodged. If successful, the “commercial feasibility” of brown coal will be further explored. Recent
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testing has revealed that potentially about 1.6 billion tonnes of brown coal could be mined from the site. Moorabool Environment Group president Ben Courtice said his members were concerned about potential health impacts and worried that the town’s water table could be contaminated. “We’re happy if the project expires,” Mr Courtice said. “Coal is last century’s dirty technology and this mine would devastate the local community. “Clean renewable energy has developed to the point where it could supply all our energy needs. Our farms, communities and climate are too precious to continue with coal.”
The group has called on locals to “fight for Moorabool shire” and protest against the mine. Mantle Mining exploration manager Mark Maxwell conceded brown coal was not currently financially viable. “The financial investment in coal exploration has waned in the past two or three years because of the push to renewables,” Mr Maxwell said. “But the resource is there and within the next two or three years we’d like to commence more drilling to define the resource. “I don’t know why people are concerned at this stage … nothing is sort of planned at this stage for further development of the area.”
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Greens leader Greg Barber said he was worried Bacchus Marsh would be “turned into the next Latrobe Valley”, citing the infamous 2014 Hazelwood mine fire, which burned for 45 days. “If [the companies] ruled out that Bacchus Marsh would become the next Latrobe Valley … why issue an exploration licence?,” Mr Barber asked. “Why have a company keep investing more into exploration if the ultimate proposal is to not mine there?” Mr Barber said Bacchus Marsh’s employment strength was based on its “clean-green reputation as a food bowl” and not on brown coal.
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*1. Discounts are off normal ticketed prices. Excludes current catalogue lines. *2. Conditions of 50 Months Instalment Interest Free until April 2020: Available to approved GO MasterCard customers on transactions made between 12/02/16 and 07/03/16 where the amount financed is $490 or more. Offer available on purchases from Harvey Norman franchisees. Excludes gaming consoles, games, gift cards, Apple and Miele products. Excludes brands and other products that are offered for sale under agency agreements with Harvey Norman franchisees. Offer available on advertised or ticketed price. Total amount is payable by 50 approximate equal monthly instalments (exact amounts specified in your statement). If there is an outstanding balance after the interest free period ends in April 2020, interest will be charged at 29.49%. This notice is given under the GO MasterCard Conditions of Use, which specify all other conditions for this offer. A $25.00 Establishment Fee applies to new approved applicants. Account Service fee of $4.95 per month applies. Also available to existing GE Creditline, Gem Visa and Buyer’s Edge customers. Refer to product websites for conditions, fees and charges. Credit is provided by Latitude Finance Australia (ABN 42 008 583 588). Australian Credit Licence 392145.
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