Monday, April 2

Outrage over Government land use plans


NOT HAPPY: Armidale Action on Coal Seam Gas protested in Faulkner Street against the draft land use plans for New England.

CONCERNED Armidale residents have taken to the streets to protest against the NSW Government’s draft land use plans for the New England region.

Armidale Action on Coal Seam Gas (AACSG) staged a protest on Thursday afternoon in front of the Armidale Dumaresq Library, where an information session was held on the draft plans.

AACSG spokesperson Carmel Flint said loopholes in the plans meant that agricultural land was left virtually unprotected from mining.

“This plan is a real failure for agricultural lands as well as environmental lands,” Ms Flint said.
“It doesn’t deliver a balance between farming and mining.

“It doesn’t securely deliver one square inch of land.”

The plans require an independent panel to assess mining applications that occur on designated prime agricultural land, but the NSW Government will be able to override the panel’s decisions.


The Armidale Express

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