NEW mapping shows the overlap between the Upper Hunter’s mineral resources and prime agricultural lands, with 12per cent of its coal resources and 14per cent of its coal seam gas lying beneath vineyards, farms and horse studs.
Under the state government’s draft land use plan for the Upper Hunter, released this week, mining projects proposed for ‘‘strategic agricultural land’’ have to be submitted to an independent expert panel for consideration before a development application can be lodged.
Planning Minister Brad Hazzard flagged yesterday the need for the government to go further and examine how greater consideration could be given to the cumulative impacts of mining operations when assessing new projects.
The draft plan maps high-quality agricultural land and clusters of ‘‘critical industry’’, including the thoroughbred horse breeding studs near Scone and the vineyards at Pokolbin.
It covers the Upper Hunter, Bylong and Ulan, a total area of 2.41million hectares.
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Newcastle Herald
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