RURAL tensions about the sprawling mining and exploration boom have not been allayed by Premier Anna Bligh's move to restrict mining activities around regional centres and towns with a population of 1000 or more.
Talk around the traps is of a cynical move on the part of the State Government with an eye on winning votes in urban areas in the upcoming election.
Small townships like Jondaryan, Felton and Tara, plus a raft of Darling Downs communities, are exempt from the new initiative which follows farming group concerns over the eight criteria set out in Labor's strategic cropping lands (SCL) policy.
Earlier this week, Premier Bligh said no mining exploration will be allowed in and around urban areas of Queensland, including regional centres such as Ipswich, Toowoomba, Beaudesert, Rockhampton, Mackay and St George.
This will occur following an exploration restricted area being declared on land bound by the South East Queensland Regional Plan, and is complementary to the existing SCL legislation, according to the Premier.
"It means there will be no more exploration activity on urban land or within a two kilometre buffer of urban land," she said.
But the announcement is cold comfort for farmers and small town residents, said the State's peak broadacre farm group, AgForce.
AgForce chief executive officer, Robert Walker, said the move sends a message that private landowners and remote communities will be treated differently.
"It seems it is okay to have an exclusion zone of two kilometres around a town, but a farmer can have a coal seam gas well 100 metres from his front door - we don't believe that is fair," he said.
"The government needs to deal with all parts of the economy and all parts of the community on a level playing field."
AgForce said there was "no consultation with stakeholders" prior to the Premier's announcement, noting the State Government's concerns about mining close to townships.
"But it shouldn't matter whether there are five people living in a township or five people living in a homestead - these same exclusion zones should apply," Mr Walker said.
Similar views are held by Federal LNP Member for Maranoa, Bruce Scott, who maintains "every farm house and community" in his electorate is entitled to be protected from mining operations by buffer zones.
"Every farming family and township, regardless of their population, should be afforded an adequate protective buffer zone from mining operations," he said.
"Under Queensland Labor's new arrangements, there will still be a mine in close proximity to the Jondaryan township, and the communities of Wandoan, Warra, Tara and Kogan will still remain under threat from mining operations within town limits."
Mr Scott questioned the difference between a town of 1000 people, a township of 50 people and a farm house located on a property outside of a township.
Meanwhile, AgForce said it is awaiting "further clarity" from the LNP on its policy to protect strategic cropping land.
Shadow State Development Minister, Jeff Seeney, said the move to exclude miners from urban areas was a belated admission from a "tired 20-year Labor Government" that the process for issuing mining exploration permits near urban areas was flawed.
"Labor has had 20 years to sort this out and is only acting under pressure on the eve of an election," he said.
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