A CROWD of Bunbury’s finest and dignitaries from across Australia gathered outside Bunbury's new Cube theatre for its grand opening on Friday.
But down below 16 anti-coal activists lined the entrance, stopping WA premier Colin Barnett as he arrived.
The vigil, organised by the Bunbury Against Coal Exports group, protested the planned expansion of coal exports from Bunbury Port.
Bunbury Against Coal Exports spokesperson Laurie Capill told the Bunbury Mail that Mr Barnett stopped briefly to chat to the group.
“We let him know that we are concerned about the environmental impact of expanding our coal productions and the better opportunities would come out of renewable sources of energy,” Mr Capill said.
“The premier seemed quite interested in that.”
He said part of the reason the vigil was held was the recent news of Lanco’s debts.
Lanco, an Indian mining company, owns Collie’s Griffin Coal and plans to export 12 million tonnes per year from a purpose built Bunbury Port terminal.
“The government has the option of doing what it can to prop up this failing company but I would suggest that if the government was to look at alternate options they could find a solution,” he said.
Lanco and Griffin spokesman James Riordan spoke against the criticisms earlier this month.
“Griffin Coal welcomes the opportunity to confirm its commitment to the people of Collie and the South West with its plans to grow the domestic coal industry through developing sustainable operations,” Mr Riordan said.
Mr Capill conceded that his group’s renewables push couldn’t happen overnight, with coal providing 15 per cent of the South West’s power.
“We’re not about throwing Collie coal miners on the scrap heap, but surely you can see the writing on the wall and work at finding alternative renewable energy resources.”
