THE battle over coal seam gas mining has moved closer to home with Corowa Shire’s decision to place a moratorium on exploration and seismic testing on all land under its care and control.
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But the issue is not new for the council. Indeed it has been on the council’s agenda since it received an application by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council in 2012 for exploration within the shire.
The application is being considered by the NSW Department of Trade and Inv-estment but in the meantime, Corowa mayor Fred Longmire says the council has concerns regarding the impact of exploration on the shire’s groundwater supply and the sustainability of key agricultural industries.
Corowa Council is right in calling for the NSW government to provide an assessment of the impact coal seam gas mining will have on agriculture production and aquifers in the area.
In other parts of NSW there has been conflict over the extraction of coal seam gas and the fears of landholders and regional communities for the future of agricultural production and water supplies.
A public forum at Corowa next month will provide a focus for ongoing community discussions about the issue and inform future decisions.