Imagine being trapped in a remote farm, cut off from the world, all because a coalmine destroyed your only access road. This is the harsh reality for Trish Goodwin, a resilient cattlewoman in Queensland, Australia, who now finds herself isolated and vulnerable due to the aftermath of mining operations. But here’s where it gets even more infuriating: the very mine that disrupted her life has been mothballed twice, and its owners have gone into receivership, leaving Trish to fend for herself in a literal and metaphorical hole.
Trish’s story begins with a glimmer of hope. Last Friday, her drought-stricken farm near the tiny town of Bluff received a much-needed deluge—nearly 200mm of rain in just a few days. ‘It was proper wet season rain,’ she recalls, ‘and we desperately needed it.’ Yet, instead of celebrating, Trish is now stranded in her humble tin and timber home, rationing instant coffee and milk, fearing her health might fail her again. At 62, she knows that if she needs urgent medical attention, paramedics would have to reach her by helicopter—a stark reminder of her isolation.
And this is the part most people miss: Trish’s predicament is directly tied to the Bluff coalmine, which lies between her farm and the Capricorn Highway. The mine, now mothballed for the second time, has left behind a gaping open-cut wound in the earth. The original road that once connected Trish to the highway was destroyed to make way for the mine, replaced by a gravel road that skirts the mine’s slag heaps. This new road, built as compensation for leasing her land, has been rendered unusable by the recent floods caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji. Sections of it have washed away, leaving behind impassable ditches and boggy terrain that even her sturdy Landcruiser can’t navigate.
Trish’s farm buggy remains her only lifeline, allowing her to reach the highway for essential supplies. But this isn’t how it should be. ‘It’s just ridiculous,’ she says, her frustration palpable. Her isolation isn’t a surprise—she’s been living in limbo for years, dealing with broken promises, bad faith negotiations, and the destruction of her infrastructure. The mine’s short history is marred by uncertainty, with two owners going into voluntary administration and the land left degraded.
Here’s where it gets controversial: Claire Gronow, from the Lock the Gate alliance, argues that the Bluff mine has little chance of ever operating profitably. She believes it’s time to rehabilitate the land and return it to grazing condition—a process not slated to complete until 2060. Gronow calls on the state government to permanently close the mine, providing certainty for landholders like Trish and allowing access to rehabilitation bonds. But should the government step in sooner? And who is truly accountable for the mess left behind?
Trish’s health has suffered immensely. She’s endured a gallbladder attack and anaphylactic shock, relying on luck and friends for survival. ‘Otherwise, I’d be pushing up daisies now,’ she grimly jokes. Her story raises a critical question: How many more Trish Goodwins are out there, paying the price for mining operations that leave communities vulnerable and landscapes scarred?
The legal side adds another layer of complexity. In 2016, the land court ordered Carabella, the now-liquidated miner, to compensate Trish for leasing her land. While a payment was made, additional ‘good neighbour’ contract terms were never fulfilled. Bowen Coking Coal, the mine’s current owner, drafted a similar contract but mothballed the mine before signing it. Queensland’s Land Access Code mandates that mining lease holders maintain access roads, yet Trish remains stranded. Is this a failure of regulation, corporate responsibility, or both?
As Trish waits for the road to be repaired—a process that could take months—she’s left to wonder: Will anyone be held accountable? And will her story spark a broader conversation about the human cost of mining? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you think the government should intervene sooner? Or is this a problem best left to the mining companies? Let us know in the comments below.
