#NoNewMinesInOurVines
Hunter Valley Protection Alliance (HVPA) and local Hunter Valley Wine Country businesses and organisations have joined forces to create #NoNewMinesInOurVines, a campaign opposing the establishment of new coal mining operations in the heart of the Hunter Valley’s wine tourism region.
The campaign was launched in direct response to two Exploration Lease (EL) applications lodged by Chinese-owned coal producer Yancoal that are currently before the NSW Government for review. The ELs are for sites located between the two prime wine growing regions of Pokolbin and Broke–Fordwich, adjacent to the Pokolbin State Forest.
The operation of mines in the middle of such an important wine growing and tourism cluster would have detrimental consequences to the industries, not to mention long-term environmental damage. The highly sustainable viticulture and wine tourism industry has been thriving in Hunter Valley Wine Country for over 200 years and has the potential to continue for hundreds more if the necessary protection legislation is put in place by the NSW Government.
#NoNewMinesInOurVines is ultimately calling on the NSW Government to reject the EL applications and implement protection legislation for this nationally important wine and tourism area, just as the South Australian Government has done for the Barossa Valley, and Western Australian Government has for the Margaret River wine region.
#NoNewMinesInOur Vines is not against mining but cannot support new coal mining operations within Hunter Valley Wine Country that would result in long-lasting, irreparable damage to the region’s thriving wine tourism and accommodation industries, key cultural sites and the environment.
Hunter Valley Protection Alliance
The Hunter Valley Protection Alliance (HVPA) is a not-for-profit group that was formed to address the growing and emerging challenges to the Hunter Valley region from unchecked resource-based industrial growth.
The HVPA is pro-business, understanding the importance of the energy and resource industries to the local, state and nation’s economies. However, support for these industries cannot come at the expense of the Hunter Valley, its residents, its businesses and its vibrancy as a hub for wine, olives, tourism and other rural activities.
The HVPA is committed to safeguarding Australia’s oldest wine area through legislation, regulations and licensing terms to create a better balance for the Hunter Valley between the needs of the energy and resource industries and the needs of the Valley’s residents, communities and agricultural, viticulture, olive and tourism industries.