Coalition's mining policy welcomed

A COALITION policy that tightens controls on mining and gas explor-ation licences has been welcomed on the Northern Rivers, but some say it does not go far enough.

The NSW Opposition has promised to apply a tougher assessment process to mining and coal seam gas extraction if elected in next month's State election, incl-uding a moratorium for all new mine and gas licences for up to a year.

The policy would mean a more cautious approach to granting exploration licences, explicit agriculture impact assessments and more comprehensive monitoring of aquifers.

The current “mining rush” has caused controversy across regional NSW, with particular fears about “fraccing” – the process of fracturing rock to release trapped gas – and the impact it could have on underground water resources.

Lismore City Council recently voted to back a moratorium on coal seam mining, following exploratory drilling by Arrow Energy at Keerrong, near The Channon.

Arrow has said it might never do serious drilling here, but has set up infrastructure including a weatherproof road, leading residents to speculate the company plans to return.

Keerrong protesters say expansion of the relatively new coal seam gas industry is occurring too rapidly and without safeguards, and no one is really aware of the dangers.

Greens candidate for Lismore, Sue Stock, said she was yet to read the detail of the Coalition's policy, but on the face of it saw it as a welcome development.

“I welcome a policy which allows for agricultural impact statements and better assessment of new exp-loration licences with a one-year moratorium. I welcome the fact that there will be more comprehensive monitoring of aquifers, particularly where multiple gas projects have been proposed,” she said.

Janine O'Brien, of Keerrong, said she welcomed any policy that tightened environmental controls of proposed mines and gas fields, but there was also a need to consider the social environment.

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW said the Coalition's “cautious approach” would provide a prime opportunity to find the best way of protecting natural areas and human communities from the destructive impacts of the “unprecedented expansion in coal and gas exploration and mining taking place across NSW”.

“Tighter controls of proposed mines and gas fields and active monitoring of waterways are all part of the solution. But they will only be effective if the groundwork is laid with strong strategic planning that avoids mining development in our water supply catchments and places of high conservation value,” CEO Pepe Clarke said.

“The next NSW government should identify water supplies and areas of high environmental or agricultural value that are vulnerable to the threat of mining impacts and make them permanently off-limits to open cut and long wall mining and coal seam gas extraction.”

The Northern Rivers Greens are screening the film Gasland, which documents the bad experiences of coal seam gas drilling in the US, at Kyogle next Thursday.