A GROUP of farmers have taken BHP Billiton to court over potential coal mining of the Liverpool Plains, New South Wales.
BHP Billiton bought the rights with a $99 million exploration licence from the NSW Government.
The conglomerate and the farmers appeared in the Gunnedah court recently. The farmers claim the miner’s drilling methods could potentially contaminate the deep aquifers that help water some of the richest farmland in Australia.
BHP’s lawyer defended the company pointing to its ongoing efforts to avoid the risk of contaminating aquifers.
A decision in the case is expected in May 2009 and the farmers say it could have serious implications for the mining industry across the state.
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