A CONSORTIUM of winemakers and businessmen have gathered more than 11,000 signatures to force the NSW government to debate plans to ring-fence part of the Hunter Valley from further coal-seam gas extraction.
Under an election promise by Premier Barry O'Farrell, any petition gathering more than 10,000 signatures can trigger a debate in parliament.
Renowned Hunter Valley winemaker Bruce Tyrrell will today deliver a petition bearing over 11,000 signatures from winemakers, local residents, businesses and visitors, which he said took less than four months to gather.
The move follows similar proposals by South Australia and Western Australia to ring fence their best wine-growing regions from further mining development.
"We are looking for security for an industry that provides jobs and brings tourists to the area - and is going to be here for ever, unless we do something to kill it off," Mr Tyrrell said.
The petition - organised by anti-CSG group the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance and supported by the Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association and grass-roots movement GetUp! - calls for the recognised wine-regions of Broke, Fordwich and Pokolbin to be protected.
The Australian
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