THE co-existence of agriculture and mining is reality, not rhetoric.
It’s not an optional extra, but an absolute necessity for the economic and social fabric of Australia.
Sustainable development is all about balancing environmental, social and economic values.
Of course, that’s often much easier to say than to do. Balancing acts are the province of governments supported by the expertise of the agencies which develop and administer the regulatory framework. It’s what we all pay them to do and to get right.
In terms of mining and farming, getting a definitive answer as to the optimum use of land by these two great primary industries is the role of governments through integrated land use planning.
Mining is unlike most other forms of development for the simple reason that we don’t get to choose where to locate this activity.
Geology is a definitive dictator and when resources are located in remote areas where there are few competing land uses, the challenges will be mainly technical, not political.
However, there are also many instances where resources stretch beneath towns and farming districts, as is the case in NSW.
On one hand, it is fortunate to have an abundance of resources that represent a huge potential asset for the State Government, but on the other it is burdened by highly complex fault lines that seem to be dividing communities and industries.
In the Gunnedah Basin the community is embroiled in a heated debate about the granting of exploration licenses over prime agricultural land.
It is a prosperous and productive rural region: on its surface, rich dark alluvial soils support significant farming and grazing. This high value land blankets potentially one of the largest underground coal seams in NSW.
Locals have legitimate concerns about potential mining impacts, as for any new industrial activity.
Many of these are technically addressed through stakeholder engagement processes, and some have also been addressed through public commitments and court cases, but to observers this has largely been to no avail.
So why is the issue of co-existence still front and centre? The community is using whatever leverage it can to oppose exploration in the Liverpool Plains region and the issue of water has emerged as having considerable traction.
The availability of water for industry and the risks of affecting water structures and water quality are valid considerations. To really know the risks, the mining industry is working with landholders, government agencies and water experts to gain a proper scientific understanding of water in the region and its interaction with the landscape.
But science alone does not address the emotional aspects of this issue.
The debate is also being framed as farming versus mining and here we have to acknowledge fear of change is a key driver.
Lack of trust in the process has fuelled the issue to the point where it has become a highly divisive and mounting public debate.
On the flip side, it’s tough to expect that the most tightly monitored industry in NSW, with the legal rights to undertake a legally approved activity should, still lack a licence to operate.
The industry argues the question of co-existence is neither an economic contest, nor a lifestyle preference, as both industries
have unique characteristics that support regional communities.
Both farming and mining are fundamental to our quality of life, just as they have significantly shaped our lifestyles and customs.
Farming is generational, based on strong family and community links.
Mining helps provide the means to support this social infrastructure, and is often the basis for rejuvenating communities at a time when governments and services seem to be ever contracting.
The fact resources are located so close to regional centres means the benefits to the local community are immediate and immense.
Vital jobs and economic stimulus help enable other industries and businesses to prosper.
We argue agriculture and mining are not mutually exclusive.
The challenge is to demonstrate this in a politically-charged climate.
The issue has attracted a multitude of stakeholders with very fixed agendas, and the local community is courting every avenue to rally support.
This has seen the forging of atypical alliances and obscure political pressure applied on government to become prescriptive about determining land uses.
Similar debates are being played out in pockets around Australia, including in South Australia and the Darling Downs in Queensland.
This is a complex issue of national significance.
The mining industry can assist by acknowledging there are no right or wrong arguments when it comes to compatible land use, but I think all stakeholders would like to see a strategic, rigorous and authoritative policy process.
Nikki Williams is the chief executive officer of the NSW Minerals Council.
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