NSW Farmers Vice President Xavier Martin says the decision to renew petroleum exploration licenses in the Liverpool Plains is a very disappointing given the agricultural productivity of the land and water in the region.
This week the NSW Government quietly renewed coal seam gas exploration tenements owned by Santos.
Mr Martin, a grain farmer from the area, said NSW Farmers policy was that CSG posed an unacceptable and unmanageable risk to the water resources, soil and air quality, local food and fibre production and rural communities.
“There is a finite amount of highly fertile, productive agricultural land in this country, and we must be very careful about how we use it,” Mr Martin said.
“Australia feeds 75 million people every year and there are increasing demands for food from our healthy plants and healthy animals.
“Once agricultural land is lost it is lost forever, and it is disappointing to see this decision leave the gate open for developments that are just not right for this area.”
Mr Martin said the fact remained the full impact of this exploration was unknown.
“We don’t know what might happen to our land and water, and what irreparable damage might be caused,” Mr Martin said.
“We need to protect the Liverpool Plains, as it is an iconic food producing region, from degradation by coal and coal seam gas development.
“If the NSW Government does not heed warnings about the risk of long-term damage to land and water resources, then it must take full responsibility and liability for any damage.”
