By Sean Nicholls
THE O'Farrell government's draft policy for resolving land use conflicts in NSW has been criticised by a member of its own cabinet, who says it is ''underdone'' in parts and does not balance mining and agricultural interests.
Just two weeks after the draft strategic land use policy was announced by the Planning Minister, Brad Hazzard, the Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher and Deputy Premier and Nationals leader, Andrew Stoner, the Minister for Western NSW, Kevin Humphries, downplayed its significance before a community meeting on the issue in Gunnedah today.
"It also tells you just how much discussion is going on and the fact that we still may have a way to go, I believe, on reaching a balance" ... Kevin Humphries.Credit: Brian Harvey
''All cabinet have endorsed at this stage is that the drafts go out for discussion and response from the community and stakeholders,'' he said. ''I can say we're a long way from signing off on those draft strategic plans.''
Mr Humphries, the Nationals MP for Barwon, told ABC Regional Radio he remained concerned about issues such as the rules around mining exploration and also land access agreements between farmers and mining companies.
He said the time taken to produce the draft policy, almost a year, reflected the complexity of the issue.
''It also tells you just how much discussion is going on and the fact that we still may have a way to go, I believe, on reaching a balance,'' he said.
The comments reveal tensions over the draft policy between the Liberals and Nationals, whose MPs feel the brunt of community protests over coal and coal seam gas mining. The energy company Santos has coal seam gas operations in the Pilliga State Forest near Narrabri, which is in Mr Humphries's electorate.
But Mr Hazzard said: ''National Party members, Liberal Party members and government agencies and stakeholders have all worked … to try and achieve a balance. The whole purpose of the public consultation is for people to have their say and to see if we can make it better, if possible. Advice from all quarters will be considered.''
The draft policy says proposals for coal and coal seam gas mining in areas identified as strategic lands must pass through a ''gateway'' process including scrutiny of environmental factors by an expert panel before a development application can be lodged.
However, the NSW Farmers Association has accused the government of breaking an election promise by not ''ring fencing'' areas from mining activity, particularly coal seam gas exploration.
The coal and coal seam gas lobbies also reacted angrily to the draft plan, claiming it will increase the cost of projects and the amount of ''green tape'' required before they can proceed. Environment groups described the policy as ''flawed''.
Mr Hazzard has said dissatisfaction from all sides meant the government had probably got the draft policy right.
But Mr Humphries described the strategic mapping process as ''underdone'' and revealed the Nationals had decided at a meeting on the weekend to make a submission to government on the policy during its two-month public consultation period.