AGL Energy has purchased Poole's Rock vineyard and the adjacent property Yellow Rock Estate as part of its Hunter gas project.
The company claims the agricultural activities currently carried out on these properties, including viticulture, cattle grazing and cropping, will be continued.
‘It is our belief that over time we will demonstrate to the community that our industry is low impact, it is safe, it is clean and that it can coexist alongside farming, wine-making and other agricultural industries,’ AGL Group general manager upstream gas, Mike Moraza, said.
However, local opponents are calling on the government to step in to protect the region.
Graeme Gibson of the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance told Decanter.com.'The coal seam methane industry in the world-acclaimed Hunter Valley vineyards must be stopped.
'The South Australian government is protecting the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale from this insidious industry. The Western Australian government is protecting the Margaret River similarly. The New South Wales government, prior to the March election this year, committed to protect the Hunter wine industry, but is yet to take any steps along the lines of the other states,' he added.
Decanter.com
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