For these mines, the conditions of approval will provide for a committee to be established and operated generally in accordance with this guideline and any other relevant provisions in the conditions of approval.

The purpose of a community consultative committee is to provide a forum for open discussion between representatives of the company, the community, the council and other stakeholders on issues directly relating to the mine’s operations, environmental performance and community relations, and to keep the community informed on these matters.

The first community consultative committee was appointed to the Rixs Creek coal mine back in 1990 in a bid to keep the community informed on what many saw, at the time, mining too close to Singleton.

The Broke Bulga committee that was associated with the gas exploration project was different.

It was unprecedented and was the response of Minister Ian MacDonald who was primary industries minister at the time. He saw a need to try and get Sydney Gas and the community together to discuss the issues of gas exploration in the Broke and Bulga areas. There was no legislation basis for this committee.

It was completely autonomous, unlike the coal mine committees that are usually facilitated by companies.

The gas committee was independent, facilitated by the state government with all stakeholders treated on an equal basis.

The decision to have applications for the new coal seam gas committee go to AGL’s address has put residents on edge again. They fear AGL may have the upper hand with this new committee.

Residents should try and have confidence in the chairperson’s commitment that all applications will simply be passed on to her, unopened and unvetted.

But if anything untoward happens with any of the applications, AGL will be in the firing line again, guilty or not.

It is not the best way to get the new committee off and running with people suspicious already.