The Wire

The town of Toowoomba narrowly avoided being left to at the mercy of the mining sector yesterday, after Queensland Minister for Mining Stirling Hinchliff announced that Civil and Mining Resources would not be granted a permit to mine within the town’s boundaries. Communities all over Australia are at odds with mining companies as the exploration boom continues. Lock The Gate Alliance is a lobby group telling people not to negotiate with mining representatives. Lock The Gate spokespeople Drew Hutton and Sarah Mole – say Toowoomba’s pardon is a small urban victory, in a battle that rural residents and farmers have been waging for years.