A PASSIONATE group comprising Stawell Gold Mines employees, business operators and individuals, will gather on top of Big Hill this afternoon in a strong show of support for the proposed Big Hill Enhanced Development Project.
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While a recommendation has been made by Planning Minister Matthew Guy that the proposed project should not proceed in its current form, the open cut mine supporters are adamant the door is far from closed.
The group is calling on as many residents as possible who are in support of the open cut mine proceeding, to join in the gathering on top of Big Hill at 6pm tonight. It is planned to have a photograph taken showing all open cut supporters gathered on top of Big Hill, which will be sent to the new Energy and Resources Minister. The Minister will, following the November 29 election, be expected to make a final ruling on the open cut proposal.
A spokesperson for the group said he hoped the event would attract a good cross section of the community.
"It will be a good way to show the incoming Minister that there is strong support for the open cut proposal," he said.
"We already have a lot of the mine workers, business owners and many individuals who have pledged their support to the campaign to send a clear message to the state government that an open cut is what the majority of Stawell people want.
"We will gather at the top, take a group photograph and show just how many people are behind the open cut going ahead."
A poll was launched last Tuesday through the stawelltimes.com.au website asking the question Do you think the Big Hill open cut mine should go ahead? The result of the poll will be published on Friday, November 28. Votes can be recorded at www.stawelltimes.com.au right up until Thursday, November 27.
Roads leading to the top of Big Hill will be closed to traffic during the evening, with access to the memorial being via pre-organised bus travel.
A Christian's bus will be travelling from Ararat for the occasion, bringing people in support of the proposal, while buses will start running from 5pm from the Albion Carpark (behind Bi-Rite) to transport residents to the top of Big Hill.
Other residents may gather at the bottom of Big Hill and catch one of the buses to the top. The buses in Stawell have been provided by JR's U Hire and Drive.
The buses will continue operating from the Albion carpark to the top of Big Hill until all residents are gathered at the memorial.
It is envisaged the photograph will be taken at around 6pm, when all supporters of the open cut mine are in place.