Mine Free Glenaladale launched its #stopkalbar campaign last Thursday in Bairnsdale at a community information night, drawing a crowd of more than 170.

All Gippsland Federal Election candidates were invited to the meeting to present their views on the proposed mineral sands mine at The Fingerboards. Three attended in person, Labor candidate, Dr Antoinette Holm, of Churchill, Greens candidate, Deb Foskey, of Tubbut, and Independent, Sonia Buckley, of Benambra, while statements from the Nationals’ Darren Chester and the United Australia Party’s Kerrie Brewer were read out.

But it was Independent candidate, Ms Buckley, who gained the loudest applause when she addressed the crowd.

“I can say straight out I’m against Kalbar’s mine,” Ms Buckley said.

“Economics have become the focus of government, but food production should take precedence.”

All three candidates had a good crack at swaying voters to back them at the upcoming election.

Dr Deb Foskey said the issue boiled down to the need for jobs.

“But is a job for 10 years worth trading?” Ms Foskey asked.

“It’s just not on, it’s short electoral-cycle thinking.”

Labor candidate, Dr Holm, said there were “consequences for all our actions, as a community we need to assess what consequences we’re prepared to accept”.

Which prompted the question – “But where do you stand?” from the floor, alluding to the lack of straight answer.

Master of ceremonies, Peter Reefman, opened the night saying it had been more than four years since MFG had been formed.

“This group is about protecting sustainable living and our agricultural industry,” Mr Reefman said.

Long-time activist, Lionel Rose, presented an update for the community.

“We’re not an anti-mining group, we understand a lot of things come from mining,” Mr Rose said.

“We’re opposed to the area it’s proposed at – it’s inappropriate. Common sense should tell us to select areas with the least impact... we question the effect on our major food bowl and our river system.

“It’s a short-term, high-risk mine.”

A panel, involving the three candidates, as well as local MFG-activists, Mr Rose and Joanne Eastman, and Gunaikurnai man, Allan Solomon, took questions from the floor, with most revolving around water, mine dust, and environmental concerns relating to vegetable production on the river and lakes system.

The water concerns included how much water Kalbar would use from the river, whether their work would affect aquifers and consequently the stock and domestic bores of farmers.

The most predominant issue was water, the lack of it, how it should be shared and how much Kalbar needed for its project.

Mr Rose listed concerns like the consumer’s perception of pollution of the vegetables from the Lindenow Flats; a negative effect on the tourism and fishing industry if the Mitchell River was contaminated, or even the Perry River and its Chain of Ponds.

“We can’t afford the risks,” he said.

Kalbar Resources will hold a community information session at Lindenow on Wednesday, May 15, at 7pm.

PICTURED: Independent Federal candidate, Sonia Buckley, answering questions from the floor at last Thursday night’s Mine Free Glenaladale meeting, flanked by Green’s candidate, Dr Deb Foskey (left), and Labor candidate, Dr Antoinette Holm (right).