Can Springsure Creek mine co-exist with agricultural...

Can Springsure Creek mine co-exist with agricultural land?
BANDANNA Energy's $1.4 billion proposed thermal coal mine on strategic cropping land south-east of Emerald will be the litmus test for co-existence under the State Government's Central Queensland Regional Plan.

Queensland Resources Council chief Michael Roche said while the resources industry needed to see "more meat on the bones" of the draft legislation, he believed Bandanna would get the green light to proceed.

"I admire their tenacity," Mr Roche said.

"Bandanna is an example of a company that has gone the extra mile to address community concerns around the impacts on agriculture.

"When I look at the regional plan and what Bandanna is planning to do, I'd say they must be well placed to tick all the boxes."

While he acknowledged farmers may well have a different view, Mr Roche said he believed Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney had shown an intent to see farmers and miners prosper through the plan.



"If you can come up with models where the ag sector can boost its productivity and have new investment in resources, that's got to be a great result for central Queensland and the Central Highlands," Mr Roche said.



In recently released Crosby Textor research commissioned by the QRC, 78% of people surveyed in central Queensland agreed mining could co-exist with agriculture if the relationship was better managed.

"So overwhelmingly, what we're seeing is support for mining and resources is on the rise in places like central Queensland," Mr Roche said.

http://www.cqnews.com.au/news/can-crops-and-coal-co-exist/1956393/