A STATEWIDE farming body last night called for more stringent laws on land access and protection under coal seam gas (CSG) exploration.
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A CSG and mining information forum organised by the Rural Ratepayers' Association (RRA) heard from industry experts and local landholders to encourage discussion and provide answers on the divisive debate.
The general consensus from the floor was that the likelihood of the boom to hit the region would involve a balancing act that valued the landholders' best interest.
NSW Farmers environment policy director Danica Leys was one of five presenters at the Commercial Club, with 60 attendees.
"We have issues with how the applications are granted," she said.
"We're calling for increased recognition and protection for agricultural land and water."
Ms Leys outlined two main issues: the impact of CSG mining on land and water, and land access by mining companies.
NSW Farmers signed an agreement with mining companies AGL and Santos which respected landholders' wishes if they decided against applications to drill.
"It's not enshrined in law, but they made a written commitment and we're encouraging others (companies) to do the same," Ms Leys said.
"The best thing landholders can do is to come to these sort of information sessions so they can be warned."
Rural Ratepayers' Association vice-president Ian Reid, a sheep, cattle and crop farmer from Galore, opposed CSG mining unless it was on landholders' terms.
"It hasn't come down this far yet," he said.
"We just want to know before it happens.
"We've got enough problems in life without worrying about CSG.
"If you're not going to make a fortune from it, I'm dead against it."
Former association president Mark Gooden, who helped start the RRA in the mid 1980s over abbatoir levies, believed the balance between mining companies and landholders could be achieved.
"This is an information night, so it's going to be interesting what they come out with," he said.
"I'm a great believer in progress and if you can build up a relationship with the developer and the rural people, it'll be right.
"It's up to them (mining companies) to smarten their game up."
Fellow founding member Ivan Robinson, a sheep and cattle farmer near Westby, also conceded it was a balancing act.
"It's a good thing and it's a bad thing," he said.
"If it's done right, we'll be right.
"They have to come to our area on our conditions."
Mr Robinson outlined the intrusive nature of mining and the potential for stock to fall down drillings or escape through gates left open.
"We know from the past, they leave a mess behind," he said.
Rural Ratepayers' Association president Barbara Johnston said there'd been a lot of interest in the session and hoped it would prepare people if CSG came knocking.
NSW Farmers mining and CSG officer Scott Harlum, Angela Greenhalgh from Lock The Gate Alliance, Tania Stalk from the department of resources and engineering, and state member for Wagga Daryl Maguire also presented, before opening the floor to questions.