Agforce beefs up farmers' fight against coal mines

July 23, 2009

by Amanda Gearing

Peak agricultural lobby group Agforce has backed Queensland farmers who are battling coal miners planning to dig up their prime agricultural farmland.

Two mining companies are preparing to mine coal worth billions of dollars which lies just under the surface of the fertile Felton Valley, 40 km south of Toowoomba on the Darling Downs and at the headwaters of the Murray-Darling Basin.

Agforce vice-president Ian Burnett toured the site on Wednesday where a hill will be removed to make way for an open-cut coal mine, which will extract 900 million tons of coal to supply an on-site petro-chemical plant.

Agforce's backing is significant because the broadacre farming group is defending smaller horticultural farmers against large mining interests.

Mr Burnett said mining would risk destroying the underground water aquifers, the closely-settled farming community and the food production of the valley.

"It's certainly good quality prime agricultural land," Mr Burnett told AAP.

"Closely-settled areas haven't been mined before.

"We will try to stop mining here. I believe it could be the opportunity to set a precedent and say 'no' to coal mining," he said.

Mining exploration permits now cover 80 per cent of the state following a 45 per cent increase in mining exploration permits.

Felton Valley spokesman Rob McCreath said Felton was a test case which would determine whether the Queensland Government could find a balance between farming and mining.

"Knowing the Queensland Government has never prevented a mine in order to protect farmland makes us more determined to win this fight," he said.

"The Premier herself has said there has got to be a balance between mining and agriculture.
"How can there be a balance if no mine has ever been stopped?"

Mr McReath said approval for the mine would set a precedent that mining will be allowed anywhere.

He said Australia had little fertile farming land and it was now urgent that it be protected for food production.

Premier Anna Bligh has been invited to tour the district but has not taken up the invitation yet.

"There's an open invitation. I really hope she comes. We'd love to show her around," Mr McCreath said.

AAP

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/agforce-beefs-up-farmers-fight-against-coal-mines-20090723-duub.html