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Four Corners: Coal-waste conflict, 1973

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Unknown man stands beside plants
Four Corners: Coal-waste conflict, 1973

SUBJECTS:  History

YEARS:  9–10


Watch this confrontation between a conservationist group and a coal-mining executive in 1973.

The coal mine in Coalcliff was given the all-clear from the State Planning Authority to dump coal-mining waste on the Illawarra escarpment. This happened before a planned official inquiry into the issue.


Things to think about

  1. 1.Imagine an area of scenic beauty that is under threat from an industry that employs people in the area. What conflicting views would you expect people to have about what should be done next?
  2. 2.What is the immediate concern of the group of Coalcliff residents? What reason for needing to dump the coal waste does the colliery give? What alternative suggestions for dealing with the waste do the conservationists in the clip make?
  3. 3.Imagine that you are a mediator brought in to resolve the conflict outlined in this clip. Identify all the parties involved and explain how you would proceed. What suggestions you would make to achieve an outcome likely to be acceptable to all parties?
  4. 4.Protests in the Coalcliff area did not end with the dumping issue. Recent moves to access coal seam gas in the general area have resulted in mixed views. Research coal seam gas (or shale gas) to learn about the complexity of the issues involved.



Date of broadcast: 19 May 1973


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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