NSW Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson was not aware her department had issued a licence for Nucoal to explore on old crown roads adjacent to a property owned by a farmer who has been fighting the coal mining company for a year.
The Land reported last week on an altercation between farmer Don Barry, "Junburra", Appletree Flat, family members and neighbours, and representatives of Nucoal who allegedly "jumped the fence" and walked up the hill on his land.
Nucoal said Mr Barry was "extremely abusive" and police were called.
Nucoal Resources was issued an Exploration Licence (EL) by the former Minister for Mineral Resources, Ian Macdonald in December 2008, and this matter had been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
Mr Barry maintained no further activity should take place until the outcome of the ICAC inquiry was known, as well as the outcome of a Land and Environment court case involving Nucoal and his neighbour, Ian Moore, whose farm is also adjacent to the crown land.
In a statement to The Land, Ms Hodgkinson said the crown land access licence was a procedural element of the original EL.
"The granting of this licence was not brought to my attention nor the attention of my office," she said.
"As a result, I have requested an immediate review of all delegated authorities within my Department."
Last week, John McClymont, speaking on behalf of the Crown Lands branch of Primary Industries, said Crown Lands was not aware of any breach of conditions that would justify cancelling the licence.
The lease over four patches of Crown Land was signed on October 21, including on a small easement or access road, owned but never used by the state government.
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