Make a submission on an amendment to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries) 2007 (Mining SEPP), Draft Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land mapping

The State Government is seeking feedback before 8th November regarding new proposals to protect farmland. The farmland they have designated as Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land is only a tiny proportion of the state and the standards that they apply for determining which land is important seem overly restrictive. 

The 'Gateway' assessment process seems inadequate as well, in terms of protecting our food and water resources.

Submissions need to be made by Friday 8 November 2013. If you would like to make a submission, go to this page on the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure website. 

Some brief points to make are:

• Waterways and catchment areas are not adequately protected.
• Land should be protected from all forms of mining, not just CSG.
• The 'Gateway' assessment process seems inadequate in terms of protecting our food and water resources for the future. It seems it cannot refuse an application.
• Ask for the deadline for submissions to be extended, as more land needs to be assessed and definitions of what land is important agricultural land should be revised.
• In our area the Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land shown (on map 32) needs to be expanded, as other important land, such as the basalt soils with permanent water of Mt Vincent and Cherry Tree Hill, is not included. 

There are a great number of documents on the Department of Planning's page, but the ones that apply to our area are Map 32 (covering Running Stream, Kandos etc) and Map 31 (covering the Mudgee area).