HUNTER wine industry leaders say they hold Premier Barry O'Farrell accountable for a "promise" they said he made before the 2011 election to protect vineyards by removing them from coal seam gas exploration areas.
Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association president Andrew Margan said the verbal assurance was made during a formal meeting with Mr O'Farrell, Nationals leader Andrew Stoner, present Planning Minister Brad Hazzard and Environment Minister Robyn Parker in November 2010.
"A number of promises were made at the meeting; money to fix Broke and McDonald roads [in the vineyards] . . . and to excise coal seam gas out of declared areas of viticulture in the Lower Hunter," Mr Margan said.
Pokolbin and Broke Fordwich vineyards are covered by gas explorer AGL's petroleum exploration licence 267.
Newcastle Herald
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