Farmers will be able to have their say on the impacts of mining with Grain Producers SA to hold a series of consultation meetings, starting later this month.
Last year, the state government announced the Leading Practice Mining Acts Review of the Mines and Works Inspection Act 1920, the Mining Act 1971 and the Opal Mining Act 1995 with the view to introduce a bill to Parliament in 2017.
The meetings will feature speakers from GPSA and the Department for State Development – the agency undertaking the review.
GPSA chairman Wade Dabinett said the review was one of the biggest opportunities in the grain industry’s history to be able to influence and respond to a review of SA’s Mining Acts.
“The impacts of mining and mining exploration on agricultural land is significant,” he said.
“Any graingrower who has mining activity on their land would attest to the fact it can be a stressful and emotional issue.
“While your property may not directly be under a lease right now, there is potential that it may be subject to one in future which is why we would like to see as many growers as possible to be involved in the review.
“This is a crucial issue for the industry’s future and we encourage growers to get onto the government’s Your Say website and get involved – if not for yourself, then for other growers who are struggling against mining claims at present.”
There will be a discussion paper on each of these three acts, with the most important one for agriculture being the Mining Act 1971 – encompassed in Discussion Paper 2.
It seeks comments on a raft of issues with potential to impact farming, such as land access, information availability, court processes, environmental protection and rehabilitation, and assessment processes.
Submissions are due to close February 24.
Two meetings will be held on January 31 at Wudinna Community Club from 10.30am to 12.30pm, and Cummins Bowling Club from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
On February 2, the Central Yorke Football Club, Maitland, will host a meeting from 10.30am, while a meeting at Murray Bridge Golf Club will be on February 3, at 10.30am.
More information about the review is available at the government's Your Say website, yoursay.sa.gov.au
- Details: RSVP for catering purposes at grainproducerssa.com.au or 1300 734 884.
