It is reported that Gloucester Coal's plans to run its proposed extended operations 24 hours a day is opposed by Gloucester Shire Council because noise will pose unacceptable health risks for residents.

As per report, Councilors voted against the company's plans and supported a motion by Mr Cr Tony Tersteeg to oppose the operations on health grounds.

Mr Cr Tersteeg acknowledged the move would not stop the proposal but he said it made the community's views clear. He added that "‘Stratford and Glen Road residents have continually complained about noise from the existing coal extraction processes at Stratford mine even though at present mining is restricted to daytime hours."

Mr Cr Tersteeg told the council that "The proposed Stratford East pit is planned to extend to within 200 meters of Glen Road."

Mr Cr Tersteeg said that the benefits of mining should not be gained at the unacceptable cost of residents' health. The company proposes to extend the Roseville pit and create two new pits to bring production up to 2.6million tonnes of coal a year.

Resident Mr Steve Robinson believes that, if approved, the extension of the Roseville pit would split the village of Stratford. He said in a submission to the council that the company would need to acquire the part of the village that fell within one kilometer of the operations.

Mr Cr Tersteeg said that the Stratford mine community consultative committee voted unanimously against the 24 hour operation proposal at its October meeting.

The Department of Planning is assessing the company's proposal.

(Sourced from www.theherald.com.au)