NSW Farmers’ Association Mudgee branch president John Webb has backed the group’s call for a moratorium on new mining or coal seam gas developments across the state.
Mr Webb said the association was not opposed to mining but was looking for greater transparency in the approval process.
He said from a farmer’s view, he was concerned about the potential loss of good agricultural land but understood mining was good for the economy.
“What we need is a balance,” he said.
“The agricultural industry will feed the world forever, whereas coal won’t.
“If you travel the length and breadth of this land you will see our best farming land is also in areas with higher rainfall and we do not want this lost to mining.”
Mr Webb also questioned the mines’ land use after mining.
“They say they will return the land in a better shape than previous but who will they return it to?”
“This is something I have brought up at all CCC (community consultation committee) meetings.”
NSW Farmers’ Association Mining Taskforce Chair, Fiona Simson said mineral and petroleum titles and applications now covered around 70 per cent of the state and a long-term plan must be implemented.
Mr Webb said as a Mid-Western Regional Councillor and local farmer, he believed the cumulative impacts of the mines should be taken into consideration.
“It’s not just one mine or the other,” he said.
“There are a whole heap together.
“People think they are a world away from Mudgee but they are not.”
Cr Webb said the view of Mudgee not becoming another Hunter Valley was disrespectful to people living in the shire.
“There are residents who must be looked after who are living on our shire but are a part of the Hunter Valley too,” he said.
The Mid-Western regional council has also backed a moratorium on mining within the region, earlier this year calling for a halt to State Government approvals until a strategic plan was put in place.
However, NSW Minerals Council said the NSW Farmers’ Association call for a moratorium was irresponsible.
NSW Minerals Council Deputy CEO, Sue-Ern Tan said putting a stop to new mines or extensions would hurt future job prospects in regional areas and make NSW the ‘ugly duckling’ of Australian states for doing business.
“They’re [NSW Farmers] advocating the use of a sledge hammer to crack a walnut,” she said.
“We are behind the NSW Government’s new sub-committee of cabinet that will specifically with coal mining issues and develop a strategic plan.
“It seems that the NSW Farmers’ Association now shares a policy with The Greens, the party that has been working against the interests of the agricultural sector for years.”
Ms Tan also rejected completely the suggestion that the minerals industry was allowed to go unchecked.
“We are the most heavily regulated industry in the state with 572 pieces of legislation, regulation and Codes of Practice that we must work within.”
Mr Webb said the association was not opposed to mining but was looking for greater transparency in the approval process.
He said from a farmer’s view, he was concerned about the potential loss of good agricultural land but understood mining was good for the economy.
“What we need is a balance,” he said.
“The agricultural industry will feed the world forever, whereas coal won’t.
“If you travel the length and breadth of this land you will see our best farming land is also in areas with higher rainfall and we do not want this lost to mining.”
Mr Webb also questioned the mines’ land use after mining.
“They say they will return the land in a better shape than previous but who will they return it to?”
“This is something I have brought up at all CCC (community consultation committee) meetings.”
NSW Farmers’ Association Mining Taskforce Chair, Fiona Simson said mineral and petroleum titles and applications now covered around 70 per cent of the state and a long-term plan must be implemented.
Mr Webb said as a Mid-Western Regional Councillor and local farmer, he believed the cumulative impacts of the mines should be taken into consideration.
“It’s not just one mine or the other,” he said.
“There are a whole heap together.
“People think they are a world away from Mudgee but they are not.”
Cr Webb said the view of Mudgee not becoming another Hunter Valley was disrespectful to people living in the shire.
“There are residents who must be looked after who are living on our shire but are a part of the Hunter Valley too,” he said.
The Mid-Western regional council has also backed a moratorium on mining within the region, earlier this year calling for a halt to State Government approvals until a strategic plan was put in place.
However, NSW Minerals Council said the NSW Farmers’ Association call for a moratorium was irresponsible.
NSW Minerals Council Deputy CEO, Sue-Ern Tan said putting a stop to new mines or extensions would hurt future job prospects in regional areas and make NSW the ‘ugly duckling’ of Australian states for doing business.
“They’re [NSW Farmers] advocating the use of a sledge hammer to crack a walnut,” she said.
“We are behind the NSW Government’s new sub-committee of cabinet that will specifically with coal mining issues and develop a strategic plan.
“It seems that the NSW Farmers’ Association now shares a policy with The Greens, the party that has been working against the interests of the agricultural sector for years.”
Ms Tan also rejected completely the suggestion that the minerals industry was allowed to go unchecked.
“We are the most heavily regulated industry in the state with 572 pieces of legislation, regulation and Codes of Practice that we must work within.”
No comments:
Post a Comment