As highlighted again by NSW Farmers Association last week, the evolution of the farcical NSW Mining Act continues well away from public gaze. Whilst the mining industry through the Minerals Council was freely consulted under former Minister Macdonald, the other major stakeholders, the farmers and landholders, enjoyed no such input. The operational ‘codes’ released by the Department in December 2009 seek to further dumb down mining operational procedures, even to removing EIS obligations . Furthermore, changes to Regulations in Section 62 further simplify mining processes by removing inconvenient impediments, for example dispensing with proximity limits to orchards and crops.

The replacement Minister Macleay has yet to visibly engage, but we trust he will give fair consideration, and full consultation, to ALL stakeholders.