Imagine being trapped in a remote area, relying on the very rains that should bring relief, only to find yourself isolated and worried for your health. This is the stark reality for cattlewoman Trish Goodwin, who is enduring a frustrating situation caused by the disruption of her farm's access following the destruction of the road for a coal mine project.
Last Friday, her property located near the small town of Bluff in Queensland’s central highlands received a significant amount of rainfall—nearly 200mm over just a few days—which many would celebrate as a blessing. "This was genuine wet season rain," Goodwin reported, emphasizing the importance of this moisture for her land. "And we needed it. We truly needed it."
However, instead of celebrating, Goodwin feels trapped in her modest tin and timber home, which has been her family residence for years, carefully managing her supplies of instant coffee and milk. She is deeply concerned about her health, fearing that should she need urgent medical assistance, the paramedics would have to use a helicopter to reach her due to the compromised road conditions.
The crux of Goodwin’s predicament lies with a coal mine that was once operational but has faced multiple setbacks, most recently going into receivership in July of 2023. The current owner, Bowen Coking Coal, had previously closed the mine, leaving a massive chasm in the landscape where a functional road used to be. Instead of a reliable path, there is now an open-cut mine known as Bluff between her home and the main highway.
Goodwin recalls that her previous road withstood occasional heavy rains typical of the region without issue. However, the new makeshift gravel road built to compensate her for the loss of her land is now rendered unusable due to the flooding from ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji. Portions of this road have crumbled away, exposing jagged rocks and muddy ditches that make it impassable for her vehicle, a 200 Series Landcruiser. The area surrounding the road is noted for its treacherous muddy ground, which, according to Goodwin, lacks a solid base. "If you veer off onto that soft ground, you won’t be able to get back out," she explained.
While her farm buggy can still traverse the damaged track, Goodwin had to rely on it to reach the highway recently, where a friend handed her a much-needed bottle of milk. In the coming days, she plans to use her buggy again to travel into Blackwater to restock her pantry and refrigerator. "I shouldn’t have to resort to this," she said, expressing her frustration at the absurdity of her situation.
Being cut off from the outside world has understandably left Goodwin feeling enraged, yet she isn’t surprised. Her family has been farming cattle in this area for over a century, and during a previous visit by Guardian Australia, she expressed concern that the road was merely one heavy rain away from total destruction.
It seems likely that she will continue to depend on friends for supplies for the foreseeable future. Goodwin estimates it might take a month before any machinery can repair the road, assuming the rain stops immediately and sunny weather returns. "And I suspect more rain is on the way—it’s likely to get even worse," she added on Wednesday morning.
Goodwin is no stranger to living in a state of uncertainty. Since the mining company Carabella began operations on her land six years ago, she has endured a series of challenges marked by unreliable negotiations and broken promises, all of which have deteriorated her infrastructure, harmed her land, affected her health, and left her feeling vulnerable and isolated.
The mine’s turbulent history includes two incidents of it being temporarily shut down, with both of its owners going into voluntary administration. Before 2019, Goodwin had access to a landline phone; now, she relies on a mobile phone that often struggles to maintain a signal.
She highlights that the closure of the Bluff mine has not only led to her material impoverishment but also raises concerns regarding her health. "Just yesterday, I felt this sudden headache and thought, oh no, not again—it's starting all over," she recounted.
In previous emergencies, when she required transport via ambulance, Goodwin was fortunate that help arrived quickly, especially during severe health crises like a gallbladder attack and an allergic reaction to antibiotics. She expresses gratitude that a guest was present to call the paramedics during her near-fatal episode. "Otherwise, I’d probably have been gone by now," she stated, reflecting on her close calls.
Claire Gronow, who coordinates efforts for the Lock the Gate alliance in central Queensland, argues that the Bluff mine has little chance of ever being profitable. She believes it’s time to restore the land for grazing, a process projected to be completed by 2060. "I would advocate for the state government to permanently close this mine, providing certainty for landowners and enabling access to the rehabilitation funds necessary to begin restoring it," Gronow suggested.
In the meantime, Gronow insists that the state should press the mine’s owners and receivers to meet Goodwin’s unmet needs. "Especially when it comes to the access road," she emphasized. "Trish has health problems, and even aside from that, she deserves the ability to drive into Blackwater for her groceries."
Back in 2016, the land court mandated that Carabella provide financial compensation to Goodwin in exchange for leasing her land. Although the payment was made, additional contractual obligations labeled as a “good neighbor” agreement were not honored before the company ceased operations. After Bowen took over, they engaged in discussions with Goodwin about a similar agreement, but the mine was shut down before anything was finalized.
According to Queensland’s Land Access Code, those holding mining leases are obligated to maintain access roads in good condition. Despite inquiries, Bowen Coking Coal has not provided comments, nor have the receivers from FTI Consulting. A representative from the office of Queensland’s resources minister, Dale Last, indicated that the natural resources and mines department is in regular communication with the administrators overseeing the Bluff Mine, which is currently under care and maintenance during their administrative proceedings.
