March 8, 2011

Coal forum, Singleton

NSW Minister for Planning Tony Kelly will be in Singleton tomorrow to address the community and stakeholder forum on the new NSW Coal and Gas Strategy.

Yesterday Mr Kelly agreed there should be some locations off limits to coal mining.

Agriculture in the Sydney basin, the thoroughbred industry and Pokolbin and its vineyards are just three   Mr Kelly suggested when speaking with The Singleton Argus on Monday.

“I think it is justified that we look at that, there is a lot of coal in New South Wales and we will never get to extract it all,” he said.

He added that ramifications of any decision to slow mining would have dire consequences of places like Singleton in terms of employment and economic growth.

“The aim of the strategy is to develop a range of initiatives to provide greater certainty for stakeholders, communities, the mining industry and the environment,” Mr Kelly said.

The forum is being held tomorrow at the Singleton Civic Centre from 10.30am to 1pm.

People who want to attend need to register in advance by phone 1300 305 695 or at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/forums.

Article in The Singleton Argus 8 Mar 2011

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