Concerns about coal

The Southern Highlands Coal Action Group organised the Water not Coal rally to address concerns about coal mining in the Highlands and possible consequences for the region.

The recurring theme at the rally was a push for definitive answers from both Hume Coal and the government.

Radio commentator Alan Jones, the event's keynote speaker, roused the crowd with his critique of past and current government leaders and what he called "questionable decision-making", with regard to a "vandalistic movement."

Hume Coal is a mining company which has been exploring the possibility of mining in the Highlands.

"Are you governing or are you not governing or are you delegating the responsibilities of the government?" Mr Jones said.

"Because if you're governing - you are in charge."

Mr Jones quoted a letter from Goulburn MP Pru Goward, which said the community had been fighting this uncertainty for four years.

"Where was government in the fight?" he said.

"Whose side was government on?"

Mr Jones said the responsibility fell on individuals such as convener Peter Martin and himself to "start the fight back".

Mr Martin said the aim of the rally was to get the message of "how damaging a mine like this could be" out to the community.

"There is obviously a lot of community support for this issue," he said.

"We're not an isolated group of extremists or hobby farmers who are against this, we're a whole group of people - younger people, older people, Greens, Labor and Liberals.

"The fact that there's more than 1000 people here today makes a mockery of the claims that it's just a handful of people with concerns."

Other speakers included Dr Richard Denniss from the economic think tank The Australia Institute in Canberra, who debated the notion that mining would create jobs in the area and inject money into the local economy.

"They tell us that mining creates jobs, and miners spend money in the local community," he said.

"Is that compared to nurses, who flush their money down the toilet or teachers, who bury their money in the backyard?"

"It was a great turn out and an inspiring day for all of us," Mr Martin said.