They had tried the subtle approach. Back in July they requested a moratorium on coal mining next to rivers and streams and on alluvials.

This wasn’t an infinite request. It was only for a period of time until there could be some certainty that coal mining would not cause irreversible environmental impacts on these rich flood plains that grow our food.

Back in 2005 the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources produced a draft document that looked at the management of stream/aquifer systems in coal mining developments.

The guidelines were designed to assist coal mining companies address issues of significant potential impact on rivers and groundwaters in the Hunter Valley.

The guidelines aimed to provide a level of certainty for the mining industry and are designed to provide protection to river systems including the channel, stream bed and banks, connected alluvial groundwaters, perched or anastamosed channel alluvium and the flood plain in the proximity of the channel.

It seems like the balanced approach everyone has been asking for.

In July Singleton’s own Arthur Burns, successfully moved a motion through the NSW Farmers Association seeking a moratorium on all coal mining near rivers and on the flood plains.

Since July, the state government has taken no action.

Now a new mine committee from within the Association has taken the call one step further and called for a complete moratorium on all coal mining.

Understandably, industry has reacted strongly and angrily.

All this could have been avoided.

Given the 2005 report, even if it is only a draft, it is evident that five years ago this was seen as a potential problem.

In that five years much could have been done. We didn’t have to come to this farmers versus industry stand off.

Everyone realises water is essential to human sustainability.

Maybe it is time to take this document beyond its draft form and implement it.

Result: stand off over.