No Coal Seam Gas Mining in Hunter Valley Vineyards

To the Honourable Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales in Parliament assembled

A Petition of Citizens of New South Wales

The Petition of citizens and residents of New South Wales brings to the attention of the House:

1. The continuing exploration by AGL Energy, and other companies, for coal seam methane gas in the Hunter Valley around Broke, Fordwich, Pokolbin, Lovedale and other defined Vineyard Areas.

2. The associated and well documented risks to the environment, tourism, vineyards and wine industry from these activities, along with the extreme impact on property owners around which these activities occur.

3. The commitments and promises made to the citizens and wine industry leaders by the Leader of the National Party and other Coalition Politicians prior to the 2011 election to prevent coal seam methane gas mining or exploration in the defined vineyards and tourism areas.

4. The policy papers of the current Government tabled prior to this recent election related to mining and coal seam methane gas mining.

5. The expectation of your citizens for real progress in delivering on these commitments to your citizens, subsequent to your announcements of 21 May 2011 .



The undersigned petitioners therefore ask the Legislative Assembly to:

1. Act with haste to permanently remove from PEL 267 and PEL 4 the lands identified as within the vineyards Geographic Indications of Broke Fordwich, Pokolbin and the associated defined lands nearby identified in the submission to the NSW Government from the Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association dated 15th April, 2011, and permanently protect those lands from any future contemplated coal seam methane gas exploration or extraction.

2. Implement the written 2011 Coalition policy New Strategic Land Use Policy for triple bottom line assessment and other protections associated with current or future mining and coal seam methane gas exploration or production license applications in the viticultural and agricultural areas in the Hunter Valley.