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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?


Showing 30 reactions

  • Merv Renton
    signed 2021-09-14 21:32:47 +1000
    Agricultural use is the best for the land and the community.
  • Angela Wallace
    signed 2021-09-14 21:32:14 +1000
    Please help the Bylong community reestablish itself after many long years of fragmentation from land purchases all for an industry which has had it’s day. Help restore Bylong
  • Damian Hyde
    signed 2021-09-14 21:31:33 +1000
    It is imperative to have the Bylong valley rebuild its future, a green future for the betterment of our country and our world.
  • Sally Jope
    signed 2021-09-14 21:30:54 +1000
  • Fay Walker
    signed 2021-09-14 21:30:07 +1000
    To help serve the interests of its Asian neighbours and Pacific Island, Australia needs to divest from coal and invest heavily in renewable energy and manufacturing. Will your company switch to the new economy?
  • Michele Kemm
    signed 2021-09-14 21:27:54 +1000
  • Dawn Hamilton
    signed 2021-09-14 21:27:25 +1000
  • Jill Robinson
    signed 2021-09-14 21:27:12 +1000
  • Garry Kemm
    signed 2021-09-14 21:26:50 +1000
  • Bill Harvey
    signed 2021-09-14 21:26:28 +1000
  • Georgie McGee
    signed 2021-09-14 21:25:46 +1000
  • Nick Collins
    signed 2021-09-14 21:24:10 +1000
  • Michael Stevenson
    signed 2021-09-14 21:22:54 +1000
  • June Keats
    signed 2021-09-14 21:22:32 +1000
  • Patricia Hull
    signed 2021-09-14 21:21:38 +1000
  • Jan McNicol
    signed 2021-09-14 21:19:54 +1000
    Please do the right thing by the people of this long suffering valley.
  • Beth Healy
    signed 2021-09-14 21:19:40 +1000
  • Joanne Ford
    signed 2021-09-14 21:16:31 +1000
  • Peter Killen
    signed 2021-09-14 21:14:47 +1000
  • Peter Green
    signed 2021-09-14 21:12:06 +1000
    Ideally, the purchaser will also be Australian, to save more Australian land being lost to foreign interests.
  • David Marshall
    signed 2021-09-14 21:11:43 +1000
    The Bylong Valley’s agricultural, farming & nature conservation has a long history in a unique landscape.

    The local community MUST be Supported & Encouraged with investment in Regenerative Agriculture & Carbon Farming.

    The Bylong Valley is a VITALLY Important part of New South Wales’ Agriculture which KEPO could assist to maintain & develop.


    Sincerely,

    David Marshall

    96 McMichael St

    Maryville. NSW. 2293
  • Kerry Scotton
    signed 2021-09-14 21:08:33 +1000
  • Jane Scott
    signed 2021-09-14 21:08:32 +1000
    We appeal to KEPCO to allow us to focus on the careful preservation of our land for agriculture and natural wildlife conservation. Everyone of us should bear in mind that our future generations will be dependent on what we have preserved for them. Thank you.
  • Margaret Morrissey
    signed 2021-09-14 21:06:34 +1000
  • Pam DiLorenzo
    signed 2021-09-14 21:06:34 +1000
  • Debbie Drayton
    signed 2021-09-14 21:06:07 +1000
  • Vera Yee
    signed 2021-09-14 21:04:55 +1000
  • Jean Thomson
    signed 2021-09-14 21:04:41 +1000
  • Maryann Doolette
    signed 2021-09-14 21:02:24 +1000
  • Katy White
    signed 2021-09-14 21:00:18 +1000