The poll was conducted by Galaxy Research and found 59 per cent of residents opposed the Hume Coal proposal – including 47% who strongly opposed it, and fewer than one-in-five (18%) supported the plan. 

Commissioned by Battle for Berrima and conducted by Galaxy Research in April 2017, the poll involved a sample of 400 Wingecarribee Shire residents.

But Hume Coal media coordinator Ben Fitzsimmons said the group was using the results to support its “outrageous claims”.

“Hume Coal is reserving its judgement on the polling commissioned by the Battle for Berrima. You wouldn’t expect anything less given the group is clearly concerned they do not have the evidence and facts to support the outrageous claims they make and that they will not withstand scientific scrutiny,” he said.

“Before making a comment on the poll, it would be interesting to see the questions asked by the polling company, the demographics of the respondents, area of capture and the sample size.”

The poll revealed more than 7-in-10 residents were worried about the proposed mine’s impact on water with:

It also showed 61 per cent of residents believed if the Hume Coal proposal was approved by the Berejiklian Government than it was likely other similar underground coal mines would be approved in the Southern Highlands.

Battle for Berrima Ken Wilson said the results were further proof of the mine’s unpopularity in the region

“The results of this independently conducted poll by the widely respected Galaxy Research is a stunning rebuff to any suggestion that the Hume Coal proposal enjoys a meaningful level of support in the Southern Highlands,” he said.

“The depth of opposition across the entire Wingecarribee Shire LGA is clear.  The results reinforce that many residents in the Wingecarribee Shire are worried about the impact of the proposed mine on water, air quality, the environment and local industries.”

 The poll found: