The skill for governments and planners in future will be to ensure reasonable co-existence is possible particularly in air quality, urban amenity, ability to live in rural residential neighbourhoods to mining and competing interests regarding water resources, tourism, breeding, viticulture, grazing and agriculture.

The community expects far greater dust suppression and more compatible mining plans.

There must be an end to granting coal/gas exploration licenses that have not first been through environmental assessment including cumulative impacts and value of existing residential amenity and high value industries.

The Coalition’s “Landuse Policy” is the only written policy of the Parties.

Under the Coalition, Part 3A is abolished. All existing exploration licenses will come under the new policy.

First of all, region-by-region landuse assessments and independent hydrology studies will be undertaken creating a needed pause in the process.

It will result in areas that will be excluded from mining or gas production.

The Coalition will review those exploration licenses granted in recent years for process correctness. There have been 26 ELs under the Labor Government over this period; a rush by any definition.

The community that has gained so much from industry and agriculture is the same community that wants to enjoy those benefits and a decent standard of living and amenity.

It cannot end there. Road congestion, health services and policing resources are under pressure.

The Coalition’s Resources to Regions for mining affected areas will return a fair share of the royalties earned from the area into these vital community resources.

FRED COWLING

IF it were in my power the steps I would take in the strategic management of coalmining in NSW would be most importantly to formulate and legislate strategic land use policy giving clear guidelines where mining could be done and giving other less persuasive industries confidence that their occupation and way of life is not in jeopardy at the hands of the mines.

Alongside that I think we need stringent protection from the cumulative effects of mining concentrations on our environment and communities eg clean water, dust, health and social issues.

Regions experiencing mining activity should have government funding preference relative to the demand that the industry is putting on the regions’ services and infrastructure eg roads, housing and education.

I would like to see an increase in coal mining in strategically planned remote areas, rather than on the doorstep of coastal towns, where the emphasis is upon the coal mines to provide the infrastructure. Onsite provision, at more remote locations, of food and housing for workers on long shifts, being week on, week off, frees workers on alternate weeks to make solid, plausible commitments to their families, community activities and further educational advancement opportunities.

Finally I would like to look at value adding or better utilisation of our coal resource. I think we should be deriving more money from the sale of our coal or getting a higher return from the huge profits these internationally owned companies are making. We need to encourage Australian companies to capitalise in this industry.

TIM DUDDY

THROUGHOUT this campaign people have consistently told me that mining in the Upper Hunter has gone too far.

They recognise the economic value of mining but are worried about their family’s health and are concerned that other local industries are being forced out.

It is sensible to have a pause on new coal and coal seam gas approvals while we strategically plan the future of mining in this district. We need a moratorium while a strategic land use plan is developed for the state.

We need to draw lines around some areas where mining should simply not occur.

In this electorate we have renowned wineries, an internationally recognised thoroughbred breeding industry, tourism and some of the most productive agricultural land in Australia. At the moment these long term and sustainable industries are under threat by more mining.

The process of developing a land use strategy must involve everyone. The token level of community consultation in the current NSW planning system will not achieve this aim. We need a legislated process that is reviewed on a regular basis and has the trust of the community as a fair and unbiased process. It must take into account the needs of the local community as well as the state.

At the moment, mining approvals seem guaranteed and are justified entirely on the basis of royalty returns to the government. The health cost and impact on regional diversity is completely ignored.

MICHAEL GIBBONS

FIRST and foremost job security is key.

As a major industry and contributor to employment, support employment, and the state economy, strategic management of coal mining in NSW is not to be taken lightly.

It is imperative that the right balance is struck between coal mining and other interests, whether they be in the equine industry, viticulture industry, farming, or tourism, Labor is determined to get the balance right, protect jobs, and ensure all industries are looked after and treated equitably. This commitment was recently demonstrated in Labor's Ten Point Plan regarding coal seam gas, and represents Labor's approach towards ensuring job protection while also taking into account environment concerns, with regards to coal mining in NSW more generally.

The Ten Point Plan featured Labor committing itself to stringent environmental regulation as well as introducing exclusion zones, to protect other industry. Doubling the number of regional compliance officers to 6, increasing minimum compensation for land owners, the creation of an Ombudsman to address community complaints, and new State Rehabilitation awards.

Finally, and importantly, Labor is and always will be committed to the funding of key support services for relevant regions effected by coal mining. Whether it be roads, hospitals or education, to adequately fund these services is more then just a commitment, they are Labor values, as opposed to the Coalitions tendency to cut services and even privatise crucial public services.