KEPCO Open Letter

Can you help us get the ear of the KEPCO CEO? We're calling on him to sell the land back for agriculture so our community can rebuild. Will you join us?

Phill Kennedy, President, Bylong Valley Protection Alliance

Dear Cheong Seung-il, CEO, KEPCO,

Today the NSW Court of Appeal ruled against KEPCO on appeal which means that the proposed Bylong coal project cannot proceed.

We, the undersigned, are calling on you to respond by relinquishing the exploration lease for the project and selling the land back to agricultural interests. We can see no valid basis for KEPCO to continue with the project.

The Bylong proposal is beset by severe environmental, social and economic risks. There is fierce and widespread opposition to the project in Australia and both of KEPCO’s legal challenges have failed.

It is also a legacy project planned and conceived many years ago that now has no place given the energy transformation that is underway.

South Korea’s new electricity plan - finalised in December 2020 - will see thermal coal consumption drop by almost 19 million tonnes per annum by 2030. The Bylong coal project is inconsistent with this Green New Deal that is underway.

We note that KEPCO has advised the Korean Government that they have recently had an offer for purchase of the land from agricultural interests.

In order to avoid sinking yet more large sums of money into a stranded asset that will besmirch KEPCO’s reputation, we encourage you to relinquish the exploration lease and enable the land to be returned to agriculture and nature conservation.

Regenerative agriculture and carbon farming at Bylong would provide a global climate benefit that would be a credit to KEPCO.

Please act now to relinquish the exploration lease and enable the local community to rebuild around a new, clean future.

Will you sign?

First Name

Last Name

Mobile Phone

Street Address

City

State

Postcode

Don't publish this on the website

Showing 30 reactions

Judith Bancroft signed 2021-09-14 23:37:43 +1000
Tricia Harrison signed 2021-09-14 23:29:36 +1000
Kim Newell signed 2021-09-14 23:25:06 +1000
Gilbert Grace signed 2021-09-14 23:24:57 +1000

I was lucky enough to work with Stuart Andrews on an agricultural art project in Kandos in 2016 after he had moved out of Tarwyn Park. I also had been watching Peter Andrews episodes on Australian Story. It was a heartbreaking tale of corporate might and global environmental desecration verses farming families and sustainable agriculture. Such a relief to see that this has resolved for the planet but now something must be done to ensure the food bowl of Bylong is repopulated and can get back to work.
Angela Longworth signed 2021-09-14 23:22:02 +1000

Great to have come this far!
Kath Leahy signed 2021-09-14 23:19:43 +1000
Rebekah Kennedy signed 2021-09-14 23:18:53 +1000
Margaret Hilde signed 2021-09-14 23:15:29 +1000
Rosalie Schultz signed 2021-09-14 23:12:47 +1000
Jennifer Martin signed 2021-09-14 23:11:16 +1000

KEPCO’s global reputation can be enhanced by relinquishing the exploration lease and taking positive action to ensure that this high value agricultural land in the Bylong valley is returned to regenerative agriculture with resultant carbon farming as well as conservation of natural species and habitats.
Karl Schaerf signed 2021-09-14 23:09:16 +1000

As a fifth generation Australian, a direct descendant of at least five convict ancestors who, upon emancipation, became farm workers and several, eventually became small farmers, I urge you to do as Lock the Gate Alliance urge be done – sell the land to those who will farm and nurture it in a sustainable manner. Doing this will not only reflect well upon your company, but also endear you to future generations of Australians and Koreans and the young of both our countries will consider you to be most honorable and astute business people, who care about the future of the planet.
Bridget Carty signed 2021-09-14 23:08:04 +1000
Gay Spies signed 2021-09-14 23:03:38 +1000
Shelley Gamon signed 2021-09-14 23:01:03 +1000
Gus Cooper signed 2021-09-14 22:57:15 +1000
Elisabeth Dark signed 2021-09-14 22:57:10 +1000
Colin Imrie signed 2021-09-14 22:56:48 +1000
Maree Kratzer signed 2021-09-14 22:53:59 +1000
Marie Richards-Cochrane signed 2021-09-14 22:53:50 +1000

Please sell this agricultural land back to farmers not to a large company as that would not help the rebuilding of the community.
Christine Prowse signed 2021-09-14 22:53:42 +1000
David Reynolds signed 2021-09-14 22:52:04 +1000

big smile
Margaret Cusack signed 2021-09-14 22:49:14 +1000

Thank you for protecting the future of the planet by good decisions om favour of no coal mines in agricultural area.
Michele Henderson signed 2021-09-14 22:48:29 +1000
Maxine McKinley signed 2021-09-14 22:47:13 +1000
Rae Sheridan signed 2021-09-14 22:46:48 +1000
Angela (Gill) Burrows signed 2021-09-14 22:35:18 +1000

This land needs to be part of regenerative farming in the valley
Sue & Richard Abbott signed 2021-09-14 22:34:11 +1000
Lynette Sinclair signed 2021-09-14 22:33:24 +1000

Thank you for the land going back to the farming people of the valley where it belongs.
Bob Morgan signed 2021-09-14 22:28:39 +1000
Elizabeth Andrews signed 2021-09-14 22:27:24 +1000