Tuesday, August 21

Greens MLC proposes new laws to protect agriculture

An Orange-based MLC is introducing a private members bill to state parliament calling for tighter rules around mining and coal seam gas.

The Greens' mining spokesman Jeremy Buckingham wants a Responsible Mining Act to be endorsed which will give councils greater control over projects.

He has returned from a tour of the United States to see how the coal seam gas industry has run alongside agriculture in Texas, Wyoming, Pennsylvania and New York.

Mr Buckingham says there are a lot of similarities between New South Wales and the US.
"It's directly comparable," he said.

"The gas fields we saw in Wyoming are coal seam gas.

"They call it coal bed methane; very similar geology, exactly the same methodology for getting the gas up.

"We saw 25 thousand gas wells completely dominating the landscape."

Mr Buckingham says he does not think agriculture and CSG are compatible and his proposed legislation will provide greater protection than current rules.


ABC News

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