THE NSW Farmers Association has backed Hunter farmers who are concerned that mining is taking prime agricultural land in the region.

At its conference in Sydney last week, Hunter farmers won the support of the peak farmer’s body who will lobby the government for support on a key motion until a whole of government approach is given to coal mining.

Scotts Flat dairy farmer and Hunter District Council member Arthur Burns moved an urgency motion that until a ministerial cabinet subcommittee is formed that NSW Farmers Association demand three key points on the matter.

The motion, which passed unanimously, included that no new mining approvals be granted for open cut mining on alluvial (flood plain) lands, that no new mining approvals be granted for long wall mining within 150 metres of a third order stream or higher and that the above also apply to coal seam gas extractions.

Mr Burns also moved that the Minister for Primary Industries and the Minister for Water be full members of the cabinet subcommittee investigating a whole of government approach to coal mining in NSW.

“To get a unanimous vote you can’t ask for much more than that,” Mr Burns said yesterday.

“We hope now that it is actioned quickly,” he added.

Mr Burns told The Singleton Argus comments from Planning Minister Tony Kelly following the release of the Camberwell report had prompted him to act.

“It is essential that they (Minister for Water and Minister for Primary Industries) are on that committee and have full input as part of the whole of government committee,” Mr Burns said.

“Until that happens we ask that there be no such mine approvals.”

Mr Burns said mining held a very real risk of causing significant disruption to local aquifers and major river systems that would lead to destruction of flood plain alluvial flats.

He added that there had been many instances of “cracking” of stream beds in the Hunter and Gloucester areas through longwall mining techniques and that open cut mining of prime river flats placed an extreme strain on food security as well as destroying productive aquifers.