Hadyn Wilson Approaching storm over Bulga, the Hunter Valley

Bulga, which derives its name from an Aboriginal word for ‘big mountain’, is a small town in rural NSW near the Wollombi Brook. Present land use includes grazing, orchards and vineyards. The town sits adjacent to the massive open-cut Warkworth coal mine, which is expanding. The next stage will bring the mine to within 2.6 kilometres of the town centre, and the following stage to within 500 metres. Despite residents winning court cases and appeals, the town is set to disappear forever.

In NSW, there is a tradition of artists protesting the degradation of landscape. This has included people like Arthur Streeton who, with others, helped prevent coalmining in Sydney Harbour.

- Hadyn Wilson, 2016