NSW:NSW not following Qld urban mining ban

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2011
NSW:NSW not following Qld urban mining ban

The NSW government has knocked back a Greens' call for BARRY O'FARRELL to follow Queensland
Premier ANNA BLIGH'S lead and ban mining exploration in urban areas.

The Queensland government has announced it'll prohibit exploration within two kilometres
of towns of a thousand or more people.

NSW Greens MP JEREMY BUCKINGHAM says Mr O'FARRELL should provide the same protections
in NSW, where coal seam gas exploration has also become a divisive political issue.

A spokesman for state Resources Minister CHRIS HARTCHER says the government has no
plans to impose a similar buffer between CSG extraction and residential areas, but is
working on a strategy to manage competing land use interests.

AAP RTV ab/wjf/jmt

KEYWORD: CSG NSW (SYDNEY)

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