A new television advertisement starring Hunter Valley locals begins screening in the region tomorrow (Jan 22), highlighting the need to protect farmland from destructive coal mining.
The advertisement features wine-makers, beef producers and a horse-riding instructor from the village of Bulga and celebrates the productive rural industries of the Hunter Valley.
Six years ago, farm lands in the Hunter Valley deemed critical to the wine tourism and thoroughbred breeding industries were mapped by the government, but no regulation was ever put in place to prevent these lands being cut open or undermined for coal.
Broke-Fordwich wine-maker Dave Fromberg features in the advertisement and said, “I’m delighted to be able to showcase how special the Hunter Valley is through this advertisement and to make the case for bringing back some balance so that the wine-tourism industry can thrive and grow into the future.”
“It's the constant expansion of the mines that is the big problem. It’s not just affecting our local community: the impact of the mines goes a long way."
Bulga horse riding instructor Aleana Riley said, “I love this place and want to see it protected so that it is there for the future. There are some places that should be off-limits to coal mining, and Hunter Valley farmland is too precious to plunder for coal."
Lock the Gate Alliance spokesperson Georgina Woods, who authorised the advertisement, said, “This is about restoring balance and giving the Hunter Valley’s rural industries certainty and protection. It’s also about making sure the economy of the Hunter is diverse and not too heavily reliant on coal mining, the future of which is under a pretty dark cloud.
“We’re calling for the NSW Government and all political parties to safeguard the productive farmland of the Hunter Valley by supporting action to prohibit coal-mining there.”
The advertisement can be watched here: https://vimeo.com/312445524 and will screen on NBN and Prime television in the Hunter over the next 2-3 weeks.