They barred BHP’s access to Tim Duddy’s property, “Rossmar Park” at Caroona, where the giant mining corporation wants to undertake exploratory drilling.

Locals say they are determined to maintain the blockade on a rolling roster until BHP agrees to a special set of land-use terms drafted by the Caroona Coal Action Group (CCAG).

BHP was granted coal exploration rights in 2006 over 250 square kilometres of some of Australia’s best farming land on the northern plains, north-west of Quirindi.

The coal resource under the plains has been estimated at half a billion tonnes, with a mine life of up to 60 years.

Local farmers and residents, led by CCAG, have waged a protracted campaign to ensure that mining doesn’t damage the plain’s agricultural interests, and are demanding an independent survey of the region’s underground terrain because of fears mining will damage the region’s water resources.

Many farmers have refused BHP access to their properties because they see the terms of access BHP proposes as inadequate.

The issue came to a head last Friday after Mr Duddy put a grader across his farm entrance gate. BHP had already done preliminary work on the property in preparation for drilling.

From The Land, July 24, 2008.