The company has been carrying out a seismic study on blue ribbon cropping land as part of a multi-million dollar project extending more than 25,000 square kilometres in the Gunnedah basin.

If analysis proves positive the next step will involve drilling deep core holes.

Mr Webb fears exploratory drilling could cause irreversible water and soil damage.

“The people of the Tooraweenah district aren’t happy and our coal seam gas group

has joined forces with other communities battling similar mining operations around the state,’’ he said.

“The formation of the NSW Coal Seam Gas Alliance will give us more clout as we push to protect farming operations and future food security.

“An astounding 70 per cent of the state is under mineral or petroleum licence or application.

“If areas like the Liverpool Plains and country around Tooraweenah are not protected as strategic cropping land Australia will have big problems with food production.’’

Mr Webb was involved in a NSW Farmers’ Association call for a moratorium on the exponential expansion of mining and coal seam gas developments in NSW.

NSW Planning Minister Tony Kelly rejected the application.

“We may have lost that battle but we are not giving up,’’ Mr Webb said.

“A lot of publicity has been generated and the public and politicians are now more aware of the problems associated with mining and exploration.

“The NSW Coal Seam Gas Alliance will continue to agitate and a meeting will be held at Broke next week to organise plans and objectives.’’

Mr Webb is the young farmer representative for NSW Farmers’ Association conservation resource management.

He wants more farmers in the region to join the association to help protect the vital role the rural sector plays in Australian society.

“Farmers need a united voice,’’ Mr Webb said.

“If exploratory work continues to the next stage environment damage may not be evident until long after the mining company is gone.

“Who is going to clean up the mess and protect the rights of landholders?

“The history of coal seam gas mining in Australia and overseas has not been good. There have been many problems and they cannot be ignored.

“Mining companies keep offering reassurances but Tooraweenah farmers are not convinced, especially as existing legislation does not adequately cover coal seam gas production.’’