The exclusion of coal and coal bed methane from Mecrus Resources’ exploration licence application is a big win for regional Victoria’s agriculture and tourism industries, Victorian Greens Senator Richard Di Natale said today.

“Mecrus Resources is the second mining company in Victoria recently to listen to widespread community concerns about coal and coal seam gas mining, and withdraw their exploration licence application in these areas,” Senator Di Natale said.

The proposal to explore 500 square kilometres of prime agricultural and forestry land in the Otways with a view to strip-mining is economic and environmental stupidity, Federal Greens Senator Richard Di Natale said today.

“The impact on the environment and on communities in the Otways would be devastating,” Senator Di Natale said.

“Every local enterprise, from tourism to farming, would be affected by a polluting brown coal mine that could end up stretching from Colac to Deans Marsh.