Couple’s dream home smothered in dust by new South32 mining project next door

A couple’s lives have been ‘ruined’ after a huge mining project opened next door to what they hoped was their ‘forever home’.

Annette and Shane Morgan bought a peaceful quarter acre block in Menangle, 90km south-west of Sydney spending their time and money turning the two bedroom cottage into a charming four bedroom home. 

They raised a family amid the rolling green hills and to them it was their own little slice of paradise – until a new neighbour moved in next door. 

Now, trucks thunder past their front door, dust covers everything, the noise is unbearable and they can’t even drink their own water.

‘Shane and I spend hours in tears because we just don’t know what’s gonna happen and we put so much effort into it and, and they just don’t care,’ Ms Morgan told A Current Affair.

The trouble started when mining company South32 got approval to set up on the land beside theirs – a day that changed the Morgans’ lives for the worse. 

The mine has not yet even opened but it’s already had a huge impact on them.

The couple say they have to breathe the dust, bathe in it and drink it.

They use tank water and say the dust from the mine settles on their roof and gets into their water supply.

Local independent councillor Judith Hannan is furious about what’s happened to them.

‘These people have lived here for a long time and all of a sudden they’ve been invaded by dust and their view’s gone,’ Ms Hannan said.

The mining project involves building a large entrance to the coal seam below, which will feature car parks, buildings, a heliport and two huge ventilation shafts.

‘The toxic waste comes out and they pump oxygen into the mine so that the miners have a source of clean air,’ Ms Morgan said.

The stale air that’s coming out and blowing towards them has them very worried.

Trucks thunder past the Morgans’ front door, dust covers everything, the noise is unbearable and they can’t drink their own water, which they say is due to the mine (pictured) next door

Ms Morgan said ‘the levels are just one below the approved level’.

As well as the dust and air, there is also the noise the Morgans say comes from the motors that keep the pumps working. 

Mr Morgan said they are going to be hearing that noise ‘all night long, 24/7, 365 days a year.’

The corporate video South32 put out about the Menangle project tells a different story.

‘Our focus during construction is to hire local, minimise impacts to the communities and maintain high environmental standards,’ it said.

But the Morgans say their environment is dusty and very noisy. 

‘When you’re at the front, you can’t talk to people, you can’t hear each other,’ Ms Morgan said. ‘You’ve got to stay inside and keep all the windows closed.’

South32 issued a statement saying they ‘have maintained contact with Mr and Mrs Morgan since the start of the construction.

‘We operate within strict noise and dust regulations outlined by the new South Wales government as part of the project approval.

‘To date, there have been no breaches of regulations at the site relating to noise or dust.’

The Morgans are not anti-mining but they said this has broken them mentally and financially and that if they tried to sell, no one would now want to buy their home.

But Councillor Hannan said there is a way out.

The Morgans have found support for their cause from local independent councillor Judith Hannan (pictured)

‘Do the right thing before you destroy people, people that have lived here for a long time, comfortably,’ she said.  

‘Buy them out appropriately and let them get on with their lives.’

The Morgans say they’re happy to talk to the mining company and find a resolution, but the miner won’t talk to them.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted South32 for comment.