One of the issues to gain the most traction, during the election campaign, was the groundswell of discontent with the existing planning rules.

No one seemed happy in fact it was something everyone agreed upon - they don’t work.

The pitting of one industry against another and residents against mining and coal seam gas (CSG) development is now a daily news item in our communities.

Mining executives understand this along the farming community and both sides would love the government to find and implement a workable solution to the current impasse.

Speaking at the Mine Legends Lunch in Singleton this month Glencore’s coal operations boss Ian Cribb told the more than 500 mining industry representatives that mining should be part of the community and work within that community to achieve the best outcomes.

“We don’t have a god-given right for our mining approvals,” he said.

“And the only way they should be gained is through consultation and presenting a well prepared report.”

This more enlightened view from such a senior mining executive may be welcome news for many opposed to open cut coal mine expansions.

Speaking at the same event the Bloomfield Group’s chief executive John Richards said rehabilitation of mine sites was vital.

“Rehab makes miners think like farmers and it creates a great deal of interest in the community and its something our industry must really develop and engage the community in,” Mr Richards said.

On the other side of the fence speaking at the forum to discuss the future of the Hunter prominent Scone based agronomist Ross Watson said the valley had the best soils and the most reliable water resources of any region and therefore it must be protected from rampant mine development.

To highlight the impact mining is having in the Hunter Valley Paul Winn, Hydrocology Consulting presented at the forum figures comparing the mine industry in 1981 to 2013/2014.

In 1981 there were 13 open cut mines covering 1742 hectares and producing 18.5million tonnes/year.

Last year there were 42 open cut mines covering 31,500ha and producing 140mt/year.

To this end the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association and the 

Hunter Wine and Tourism Association have called on the government to immediately create 10 kilometre buffer zones to protect their industries.

These two groups whose industries have been mapped and identified as critical industry clusters want no coal mining or coal seam gas development within 10km of their clusters.

Like the viticulture regions in South Australia and Western Australia and the thoroughbred regions of Newmarket (UK) and Kentucky (USA) the two associations want similar protection afforded to the Hunter Valley.

“There are places in the Hunter where mining should not be allowed,” Hunter Communities Network spokeswoman Bev Smiles said.

“Our very important and world famous agricultural industries need to be protected. The Hunter River, its fertile river flats and associated groundwater systems also need to be protected.

“The future of the Hunter region depends on economic diversity with a strong agricultural and tourism industry. The health of the Hunter River system is a vital component of future food, wine and horse production.

“The cumulative impact of mining on communities, other industries and the resilience of our key water sources is not taken into account in the current planning and approvals system,” Bev Smiles said.

“Our water is the most important resource for farming,” landowner Wendy Bowman said.

“Without a good, clean water supply we can’t grow the lucerne and crops needed for the dairy, beef and horse breeding industries or the grapes for the wine industry in the Hunter Valley.

“The coal industry has damaged too many of our groundwater systems that feed the river and left too many open voids in the landscape. This leaves a very costly environmental legacy for farmers and the community in general.”