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 Farmland protection would come at a price: Lucas 

Farmland protection would come at a price: Lucas

24/11/2008 3:11:00 PM
Calls for prime agricultural land to be protected from coal mining will be considered by the State Government, but landholders have been warned that such measures could come at a price.

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas told landholders at a mining summit at Dalby on Friday that the Queensland Government would seriously consider their requests to protect some areas of "iconic" farm land from mining developments.

But he added that landholders should realise that any form of protection would have other consequences.

"In certain parts of Queensland, people are saying to me, well why can't I divide my cane farm for residential housing?" Mr Lucas said.

"Well, if it was iconic land, it would be a bit hard to say one moment you want to protect it for food production, and then for a different use.

"It is often better to have a degree of flexibility, however, people have legitimately and in good faith made suggestions and they deserve the Government to seriously consider them so that's what we will do."

One sticking point on the issue of protection relates to the question of how prime agricultural land is defined.

Mr Lucas said there was clearly no universal agreement yet but said farmers at Dalby had presented him with some good ideas to get the ball rolling.

The depth of feeling surrounding the impact of mining on agriculture was reflected in the size of the crowds that arrived to meet with the deputy premier at both forums last week.

At Dalby organisers put out 150 chairs but at least another 100 people filled the standing areas at the rear of the room.

* A special report on the coal versus farming debate will appear in Queensland Country Life, November 27 edition.

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The day of the thief has arrived. Jesus said come in by the narrow gate and anyone who comes in any other way is a thief and will get a thief's reward. Paul Lucas is backing the thief and most of young Australia is following the piper because as a nation we threw out the baby {TRUTH} with the bathwater and we will have to drink toilet water and eat coal instead of the fruit of our best land. Lack of vision.
Posted by Richie 10 on 25/11/2008 9:20:46 AM
The State Government has locked up significant areas of prime agricultural land for unproven conservation gains in the name of 'vegetation management'. I'd bet my life that if minerals for which there is a market were discovered beneath the supposed critical habitat that the trees would go, the land mined, and the farmer who wanted to farm some of the land originally would be left with no trees and virtual wasteland... and no supposed 'critical habitat'.
Posted by Green landowner on 25/11/2008 1:10:36 PM

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Member for Fitzroy Jim Pearce, with Deputy Premier Paul Lucas and Mines Minister Geoff Wilson following the summit in Dysart last Thursday.
Member for Fitzroy Jim Pearce, with Deputy Premier Paul Lucas and Mines Minister Geoff Wilson following the summit in Dysart last Thursday.

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