UP FOR THE FIGHT: Jenny Rooke (front) with Wendy White, Antoinette Griffiths, Christine and Steve Jordan, Samy Korbi and Tina Thomas
The Greens have joined forces with the Country Womens’ Association and farmers for the first time in history to protect agricultural land from coal mining and the effects of coal seam gas mining.
The groups are concerned about the state government’s strategic regional land use policy, which Maitland Greens co-convener Wendy White said does not give landholders protection against coal companies or the government.
The policy states cabinet can declare a project to be of exceptional circumstance if the resource is of exceptional value to the state.
Ms White fears the Hunter Valley could become the quarry of Australia and the government could use its power in the legislation to call “exceptional circumstance” frequently to boost coal production.
“The government has failed to protect the Hunter Region in their legislation from mining and coal seam gas,” she said. “Landowners need to know people can’t come in and stomp on their land and use it, the government needs to tell them what areas are a no-go zone for coal mining.
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Maitland Mercury
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