“OMG – Mine Your Food Bowl?” Open-cut coal mines on the Liverpool Plains?

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Andrew McInnes Photography

I recently conducted a 36 hour reconnaissance drive up to Breeza and Caroona on the Liverpool Plains area of NSW to examine the area where several open-cut coal mines have been proposed – at least one of which, the Shenhua Watermark mine, is foreign-owned. The Liverpool Plains a highly productive region of Australia with vast acres in production of barley, chickpeas, faba beans, sorghum, sunflowers, soybeans, maize, wheat and cotton, plus grazing of beef cattle and sheep. I concur with the protesters slogan of “Wrong mine, wrong place.”

On the drive up I hoped to photograph the extensive raping and scarring of the land through the Hunter Valley but opportunities are not prevalent from the roadside due to significant concealing of operations and the resultant ramifications. I am not against mining, per se, however I do have issues with “the commons” being over-extracted for the profits of a few whilst the landholder has little recompense for the invasion, and the people of this nation see very little direct financial benefits.

The following two signs are in close proximity, located alongside the Kamilaroi Hwy, near Breeza.

Should they be able to mine this…

and turn it into this?

Here is a warning sign to the public (the same public who paid for the road) that as a result of mining activity in the Hunter Valley the public infrastructure is likely compromised…

Let’s Lock the Gate “to protect our common heritage – our land, water and communities – from unsafe or inappropriate mining for coal seam gas and other fossil fuels.”

To wrap this blog-post up here are several images capturing a very small portion of the scenery, productivity, and lifestyle of this magnificent agricultural region. I am very grateful to the property owners for their time and the access to their properties.

These first four images were captured as I arrived just prior to dusk at “Rossmar Park” near Caroona.

The next morning, along Coonabarabran Rd, near Caroona.

“Breeza Station” – Breeza.

“Drayton” – Breeza

Cheers 🙂

Silly Galah

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Andrew McInnes Photography

A Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) inverted whilst debarking around a nest-hollow in a gumtree on the riverfront of Perth.

Perth ‘ish – September-November, 2012

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Andrew McInnes Photography

An assortment of images taken around Perth (and a few from nearby Yanchep) over the Austral spring, 2012.

Perth by night – a view from Kings Park.

Perth 2AM-113436
Canon 7D with Canon 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 lens.
© Andrew and Allison McInnes/2AM Photography. All rights reserved.

Perth and the Swan River viewed from Matilda Bay.

Swan River 2AM-111873
Canon 7D with Canon 24-105mm f/4 lens.
© Andrew and Allison McInnes/2AM Photography. All rights reserved.

Perth, the Swan River, and a bevy of the river’s namesake (Black Swan) – viewed from Matilda Bay.

Swan River 2AM-111875
Canon 7D with Canon 24-105mm f/4 lens.
© Andrew and Allison McInnes/2AM Photography. All rights reserved.

A Galah chew and rub spot on sugar gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx). This particular tree is one of over 300 comprising a tree-lined avenue in Kings Park, planted to honour Australian service personnel who died in the two World Wars and other engagements.

Galah 2AM-29701
Canon 30D with Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens.
© Andrew and Allison McInnes/2AM Photography. All rights reserved.

Laughing Kookaburra perusing its surrounds for prey items in the rain.

Laughing Kookaburra 2AM-29733
Canon 30D with Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens.
© Andrew and Allison McInnes/2AM Photography. All rights reserved.

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (female) pauses its grazing upon new shoots and flowers at the University of Western Australia.

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo 2AM-29748
Canon 30D with Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens.
© Andrew and Allison McInnes/2AM Photography. All rights reserved.

Another view of the Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (male) that features the red tail feathers – at the University of Western Australia.

The Red Wattlebird is a “honeyeater” – a group of birds which have highly developed brush-tipped tongues adapted for nectar feeding on numerous plants including this kangaroo paw flower (kangaroo paw plants are endemic to the south-west of Western Australia).

Although primarily a “honeyeater”, the Red Wattle Bird also eats a variety of insects which are often caught mid-air, and also some fruit.

Now that I have introduced some floral aspects in the two preceding images, here is a series of images of everlasting daisies (everlastings), plus Sturt’s Desert Pea, and Mallee Eucalyptus.

Up the road a little is a beautiful “terrace” beach at Yanchep, parts of which are sheltered by a reef which is delightfully overwashed. The image below shows this reef and placid waters immediately shoreward – we commented immediately that this is a wonderful spot for children to explore, enjoy, and hopefully be moved to curiosity.

The numerous offshore reefs and the ragged limestone cliffs of this portion of the coast are steeped in maritime history.

Yanchep 2AM-112401
Canon 7D with Canon 24-105mm f/4 lens.
© Andrew and Allison McInnes/2AM Photography. All rights reserved.

Texture and movement as oceanic water reunites with former oceanic reefs.

Yanchep 2AM-112442
Canon 7D with Canon 24-105mm f/4 lens.
© Andrew and Allison McInnes/2AM Photography. All rights reserved.

Dusk painted the ocean with some wondrous hues, each exquisitely ephemeral .

Yanchep 2AM-112414
Canon 7D with Canon 24-105mm f/4 lens.
© Andrew and Allison McInnes/2AM Photography. All rights reserved.

Andrew McInnes Photography

Imagery © Andrew McInnes

Tag Archives: galah

“OMG – Mine Your Food Bowl?” Open-cut coal mines on the Liverpool Plains?

Silly Galah

Perth ‘ish – September-November, 2012