The last information session on the draft strategic regional land use plan in New England was held in Armidale Town Library last night.
Over the past two weeks environmental groups, community members and farmers have had the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns to representatives from the Department of Planning.
Around 30 Armidale residents provided feedback on the plan which aims to protect areas of high agricultural value from Coal Seam Gas mining.
Spokesperson with the Northern Inland Council for the Environment, Carmel Flint said the community also wanted to know how the plan could be applied to their situation.
"Why the important farmlands around Armidale weren't identified as strategic agricultural land? Why this plan maps some high conservation areas but then doesn't do anything to protect them. And why the proposal for a gas prospecting license across the Northern Tablelands doesn't trigger proper community consultation."
Due to the new application to prospect for gas across the Northern Tablelands, more people attended a protest against the plans outside the Library.
"There's not one hectare that's going to be definitely off limits for mining. So we think that's so serious it warrants protest." Said Ms Flint.
ABC News
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