Which soil is worth saving?
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The Liverpool Plains or the Hunter alluvials?
Last month the NSW Government paid $220 million to buy back BHP Billiton’s mine licence for its Caroona Coal Project located in the heart of the rich farming region of the Liverpool Plains.
At the time there was general rejoicing especially from all the Liverpool Plains farmers and their supporters, who had spent a decade fighting the development of the underground mine.
In announcing the buy back Premier Mike Baird said the Caroona mine would have too great an impact on the soils and aquifers of the plains.
Basically the soils and water were more important to the state than the coal resource the soils covered.
I applaud his judgement and his next move must be to stop the development of the Shenhau Watermark open cut mine.
Why because although we are a vast land our country only contains small areas of highly productive soils like those found on the Liverpool Plains.
Our productive lands should be cherished and protected along with the water that supports them. No mines, no houses no anything on our best soils.
They are sacrosanct.
Now given the Premier’s view on the Liverpool Plains can he also take a long overdue look at the Hunter Valley and start to ensure the protection of its best farming areas.
Once again no mines, no houses no anything on this region’s prime agricultural lands.
I don’t think our soils are of less value than those of the Liverpool Plains Mr Baird.
So don’t forget to protect them – please.