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Wonnarua Elder seeks federal intervention to halt HVO mine expansion
Wonnarua Elder Scott Franks has requested urgent federal intervention to protect cultural heritage from the Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) Continuation Project near Singleton. Representing the Plains Clans of the Wonnarua People, Franks has submitted an application under section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 to the federal Environment Minister, Murray Watts.
The application seeks a one-kilometre buffer around the HVO mine to safeguard significant sites. The proposed project involves the extraction of 429 million tonnes of coal from the HVO North and HVO South mines. If approved, the extension would see HVO North operate until 2045 and HVO South until 2042.
The request highlights cultural connections to land near Ravensworth, Mount Arthur, and Lemington, which include ceremonial grounds, campsites, birthing places, and songlines. This follows the recent listing of the Ravensworth Homestead and 500 hectares of surrounding land on the State Heritage Register.
Entities
Hunter Valley Operations · Murray Watts · Scott Franks · Singleton · Wonnarua people
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Scott Franks filed an application under section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984. www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au · www.huntervalleynews.net.au · www.muswellbrookchronicle.com.au · www.singletonargus.com.au
- [● 4 SOURCES] The approval would extend HVO North operations until 2045 and HVO South until 2042. www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au · www.huntervalleynews.net.au · www.muswellbrookchronicle.com.au · www.singletonargus.com.au
- [● 4 SOURCES] The project involves two mines, HVO North and HVO South. www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au · www.huntervalleynews.net.au · www.muswellbrookchronicle.com.au · www.singletonargus.com.au
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Hunter Valley Operations Continuation Project aims to extract 429 million tonnes of coal. www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au · www.huntervalleynews.net.au · www.muswellbrookchronicle.com.au · www.singletonargus.com.au
- [● 4 SOURCES] The application requests a one-kilometre buffer around the HVO mine. www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au · www.huntervalleynews.net.au · www.muswellbrookchronicle.com.au · www.singletonargus.com.au
- [● 4 SOURCES] Scott Franks has requested Commonwealth intervention to protect Wonnarua cultural heritage. www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au · www.huntervalleynews.net.au · www.muswellbrookchronicle.com.au · www.singletonargus.com.au