VEREENIGING. – “You do not need to be rocket scientist to know what the impact (of proposed coal mining between Vereeniging and Meyerton) is going to be on the community.”

These were the words of Koos Nel of the Mount Ridge Nature Conservancy during a scoping meeting about Glubay Coal’s proposed Springfield Collery outside Vereeniging.

The meeting was held at Arcon Park Primary School on Saturday 9 October.

Nel said that they were establishing a nature reserve on the top part of the conservancy, bordering the area where the company proposes to set up its massive coal mine operation.

“We are sort of on the final approach of establishing that nature reserve. Bringing in a large-scale open cast mine (such as the proposed Springfield Colliery) is definitely going to jeopardise that,” said Nel.

Glubay Coal has already applied for mining rights and plans to set up their proposed Springfield Colliery on a 2 547 hectare stretch of land between Vereeniging and Meyerton.

The location of the proposed mine is between the R59 highway and the Old Johannesburg Road (R82).

Concerned residents have been attending public participation meetings held in various neighbouring suburbs in their droves to find out more.

Residents are concerned about pollution, blasting and an increase in traffic on the roads neighbouring the proposed colliery.

“If you put the mine here it will be surrounded – 360 degrees – by suburbs, townships and people living there. It is an island right in the middle where hundreds and thousands of people are living. As I said you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to find out what the effect (of such a mining operation) would have on the surrounding communities,” said Nel.

Nel concluded by saying that his recommendation with the regards to the mining application was: “Don’t even start it. Rather use that money to decrease your carbon footprint. Spend the money on the nature reserve that we want to create. At least that would be to the benefit of the community.”

Nel’s words was met with a loud applause. A lot of the meetings, including the one in Arcon Park, were heated.

An emotional Maurice Jansen or Rust-ter-Vaal said during the meeting that he was concerned about the health impacts on him and his children.

Another man said that residents should furnish themselves with all the facts before deciding for or against the mine.

Deon Govender, a resident of Arcon Park, said he felt disrespected in the way the meeting was being handled.

He felt important questions regarding the safety and health of the public were not being answered and said that the company (Glubay Coal) could have at least sent someone out to address those specific concerns.