25 February 2015

Local businesses back Maules Creek coal mine

Local business people have pledged their public support for both the Maules Creek coal mine and the industry in general.

Members of the Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce supported a motion stating the chamber understood the importance of Whitehaven Coal and the Maules Creek mine project to the district.

Chamber president Ann Luke handed the document outlining its support to Paul Flynn at a site visit of Maules Creek. The letter outlined the benefits already flowing to the community and regional economy from the construction phase of the Maules Creek project and the chamber’s confidence in the long-term benefits during the life of the mine.

Stripes Engineering, which installed the water supply at the mine, has logged 11,500 man-hours onsite since December 2013 and has employed up to 15-locally based staff at any one time.
“Chamber members canvassed have reported an estimated $20 million in district in direct income from construction contracts and sub-contracts already this year which has been re-invested in the Gunnedah economy, families and community,” the chamber letter said.

“We acknowledge and appreciate the local procurement policies implemented by Whitehaven Coal during the construction phase.”

The letter also acknowledged that business confidence and growth in the region had increased, along with new housing developments and businesses like Aldi opening.

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