New policy provides no real change to aquifier use

The Bylong Valley Protection Alliance has said interim aquifer interference regulation launched by the NSW government on Monday will not have much meaning.
The interim regulation provides a three megalitre per year cap before a water licence is needed for minerals and petroleum exploration.

The state government also removed a previous exemption allowing holders of aquifer interference approval to take water without a licence.

Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, said those that hold this approval will now be subject to standard water licensing procedures.

However Bylong Valley Protection Alliance interim president Peter Grieve said the new regulation would not change anything.

“It [full aquifer regulation] will depend on the aquifer studies,” he said.

Ms Hodgkinson said the regulation was an important step for the NSW Government and allows the wider community some breathing space while proper consultation is undertaken.

She said that the new rules would not be retrospective and would apply to any new enterprises from 1 July. Mr Grieve described this as “reasonable”.

The minister said it is important to allow the community adequate time for consultation while the government develops the aquifer interference policy.

“The new policy will form a vital part of the NSW Government’s focus on strategic regional land use and will enable us to balance the competing needs of the environment, mining and agricultural sectors,” she said.

“The community is clearly concerned about the impacts of mining and coal seam on groundwater resources and this new regulation gives us greater control.

“The NSW Government is determined to find a balance between farmers, industry and the environment when it comes to rural land use, and this new regulation, along with the proposed policy, are two key steps in what will be a long process.”

NSW Farmers’ view:

NSW Farmers’ Mining Chair Fiona Simson said the state government appears to be listening to community concerns about the need to protect aquifers from potential contamination.

“Community concern, as demonstrated last week in Moree, shows people are concerned about the possibility of long term damage that could result from unchecked mining and gas industries,” she said.

“We look forward to a permanent framework which will determine how aquifer interference approvals are managed under the Water Management Act 2000.”

NSW Farmers’ is a key participant in the state government’s reference group, which is helping develop the final policy and regulation.

Source:  Mudgee Guardian - The Weekly