Holding a giant banner reading ‘Barry’s Broken Promises:  Water Not Coal, Farms Not Gas’ the group held a morning tea outside the Cabinet meeting with ‘Farms not Gas’ cakes and balloons and ‘Water Not Coal’ T-Shirts.

Gunnedah Councillor and Mullaley Gas and Pipeline Accord spokesman Davod Quince said he was happy with the “almost 100-strong turnout.

“It’s the busiest time of the year for a number of people with concerns about the impact of coal seam gas, because it’s harvest time, but we managed to get a big crowd to help make our voices heard,” Mr Quince said. 

The group robustly fired questions at Planning Minister Brad Hazzard in the forecourt before his one-on-one meetings with members of northern region community groups, in the lead-up to the state government’s Community Cabinet meeting. 

Mr Hazzard answered a number of questions relating to independent planning assessments and the approvals process for coal seam gas exploration.

“To give him his due, he fronted the protesters for about half an hour and tried to answer our questions as best he could,’ Mr Quince said.

After listening to the group, Mr Hazzard urged them to give the new strategic land use policy a chance.

“We have worked on the policy for 16 months. I appreciate your frustration,” Mr Hazzard said. 

“It’s been an enormous job, but now there is at least something in place that ensures science is part of the decision-making process.”

One protester had the final word, though, urging Mr Hazzard to look at the bigger picture.

“Environment is not something you can re-do,” she shouted. 

At one point, the protest moved inside the venue’s foyer as protesters heckled Resources Minister Chris Hartcher. 

He continued to move past protesters but later answered questions as part of the community forum.

Mr Quince was one of 14 community members that managed to ask a question during the 90 minute community forum.

“While there were only 14 questions and there were education representatives and health, about half of the questions related to coal and coal seam gas developments, which shows the level of concern in the region,” Mr Quince said.

Mr Quince presented the forum with the results of water sampling from a Santos coal seam gas water evaporation pond.

“The water was analysed by a laboratory, which advised this water should not be released into the atmosphere,” Mr Quince said.

“In fact, the expert geochemist advice our group has received is that even treated with reverse osmosis, this water is so far removed from being natural, it should not be reinjected into the aquifers, which is what Santos want to do.”

Mr Hartcher responded, by saying he would be happy to meet with the MGPA and any expert the group would like to provide and if there was evidence of damage to the aquifer or water systems, the proposal would not be allowed to go ahead.”

Mr Quince said he was very pleased at the response and has already begun discussions with the Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson to organise such a meeting.

Responding to another question on the Strategic Regional Land Use Policy, asked by Tamworth resident Chris Sheen, Mr Hartcher said  the policy was the government’s way of ensuring resources in the state were managed and based on best practice science, not political alignments. 

He told the forum the intention of the land use policy was a means of trying to get a sensible and rational approach to developing the state’s resources so that mining, gas, communities, and prime agricultural producers could co-exist.

But Bellata-Gurley Action Group spokesman Penny Blatchford wasn’t convinced.

“Our rich black soils near Moree are recognised as part of the Golden Triangle - a fertile area producing quality wheat that we manufacture ourselves into Bellata Gold pasta” Ms Blatchford said.

“Our future is now at risk because Barry O’Farrell has released a land use plan containing a flawed gateway process and a non-binding aquifer policy that has no legal force.

“By renewing CSG licences introduced by the previous Labor government, Barry O’Farrell has ignored communities and forever stamped his government as a puppet of the CSG industry.”