NONE of the state will be declared off limits to mining or gas drilling but companies will have to prove they can keep environmental damage to a minimum if they operate in prime farmland, vineyards and horse studs, under new NSW government plans.
The strategic land use policy, released to the public after tortuous, year-long negotiations, is an attempt to heal the rifts between farmers and mining companies that have become a feature of rural NSW.
It means mining or drilling proposals that fall within areas defined by the government as ''strategic agricultural land'' will have to pass scrutiny from an independent scientific panel, to be appointed by the planning minister, before a development application can be lodged.
The Premier, Barry O'Farrell, also wrote to the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, yesterday, confirming NSW would agree to new federal controls on coal and coal seam gas mining, making the state eligible for a share of $50 million in federal funding for environmental research.
A draft code of conduct for coal seam gas drillers was also released yesterday, with provision for companies to pay legal costs for farmers who go to court to try to stop drilling on their land.
''We are delivering the best protection for agricultural land in Australia and extremely tough controls on coal seam gas mining,'' said the Planning Minister, Brad Hazzard.
SMH
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