THE move by Grainger Resources to obtain the exploration rights for coal seam gas (CSG) in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area is a reminder to landholders of the expanse of NSW potentially in the industry's sights.
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The rice industry's attempt to have its irrigation areas classed as a critical industry cluster (CIC) - although seemingly an obvious walk-in given its concentration of specially constructed rice growing irrigation areas and contribution to local employment - will test the government's commitment to protecting important agricultural land.
The rice industry was knocked back in August last year when NSW Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson declined to grant CIC status, saying there wasn't an immediate threat of CSG extraction.
However, with exploration now on their doorsteps, the threat would seem to be imminent and the plea should meet the CIC protection criteria.
If the region fails to gain CIC protection it will further damage the ag community's faith in the Coalition to deliver on its word to protect prime agricultural land.
This aspect of the government's reputation has already suffered given its lack of delivery after big election promises in 2011.
This was highlighted in the shortcomings of the Gateway Panel, which has not been given powers to veto mining or CSG applications, as well as the lack of any strong protection measures for biophysical strategic land.
The process by which CICs are arrived at also needs transparency and the path to arbitration is far too easy for licence holders.
Once a land access agreement reaches arbitration the landholder simply can't match the fire power of these CSG companies.
All these factors gear the process in favour of the licence holder.
Unless our State's rice growing areas are granted CIC status, if good volumes of gas are discovered, the rice industry will struggle to survive there as we know it.
Even then it is only protected from CSG, not mining.
If the Coalition is serious about making meaningful change that protects landholders and our food security then it has to be made at the land access and arbitration level and must take seriously the expenses potentially incurred if landholders are to obtain equitable representation to fairly arrive at an outcome.
