Scenic Rim takes on CSG

Scenic Rim producers Michael and Sally Undery, Glenaulin, with family during the anti-mining protests across the region last month

IN Queensland local government's toughest talk yet on the mining-agriculture battle, the Scenic Rim Regional Council has threatened to use the courts to challenge any government-approved resource sector development in its region.

Mayor John Brent, who also chairs grower group Ausveg, said he so strongly believed mining and agriculture could not coexist across the Scenic Rim region, south-west of Brisbane, that he would be willing to open council coffers to fund legal challenges in the Queensland Land Court against any coal or coal seam gas (CSG) proposal in his region.

"While the Land Court would obviously be the final arbiter, we need to ensure the future viability of our food production and stop anything interfering with our tourism industry," he said.

Widely considered a food bowl with rich agricultural land, the Scenic Rim also includes many national parks and environmentally sensitive areas.

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