Tuesday, 12 December, 2006

by Adrienne Francis
ABC Country Hour

Organic farmers in Batchelor are the next in a series of rural residents to share their concerns over the impacts of mining exploration. In recent months on Country Hour, we've heard how vegetable growers, wildlife carers and cattlemen feel they're being impacted by the bustling exploration for oxides, sulphides and uranium by Compass Resources.

Fourteen-year-old Lucy Hull of Rum Jungle Organics says she remains concerned her family's livelihood is being impacted. The Hull family grow bananas, paw paw and other tropical fruits amongst small cleared patches of native vegetation. The organic farm is located around 3.5km south of the Compass mine.

"We have had the block fro about five years and we pride ourselves in being without any chemicals or anything like that. We are only growing about 2-3ha, but we have a 60ha block and hopefully half of that will be organic fruit and vegetables. There is noise and planes going over which doesn't directly effect our growing, but other things will in the long run.

"We need to keep everything natural and in its purest form. The land is so rich with such minerals and that is why agriculture is such a big thing in our area. (This is also why mining is occurring here). We are trying to develop around the old Rum Jungle mine. We were considering moving but we have always wanted this life, so to give that up is ridiculous. The community spirit is big and the jobs here are important.

"There's a few good friends of ours that are effected in more ways, their corps have been bad because of the dust, the noise and disruption is also a problem, it makes the land less worthwhile, that's why some people wish to move. There's been meetings in the community and the (mine) has not informed us always in all means possible. If the mine informed us of everything perhaps (we can all) live and work in harmony."