Upper Hunter Shire councillor Lea Carter, former Upper Hunter Shire Council environmental services director David Casson and fellow staff members attended a public meeting with the NSW planning department to learn about the government’s coal and gas strategy scoping paper.

Cr Carter said there were a lot of disgruntled people in the Singleton Shire that are not happy with the current mining situation.

Cr Carter and the council representatives also met with NSW Planning Minister Tony Kelly and his staff for a private meeting to provide feedback and concerns.

She said an issue they raised was the lack of social support for people living in coal mining areas.

Cr Carter said the meeting was useful in gaining information to help the council decide their position on total exclusion of future coal and coal seam gas mining in the future, which will be the topic of discussion at an extraordinary council meeting next week.

On Tuesday, NSW Premier Kristina Keneally released a 10 point plan to specifically deal with coal mining and coal seam gas exploration in the state as a response to the coal and gas strategy meetings.

Two key points are a ban on mining licences in waterways adjoining national parks and banning the use of Benzene, Tooluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes chemicals in coals seam gas operations.

Ms Keneally said the plan strikes a balance between the needs of the mining industry and community concerns about environmental protection.

“We recognise that there are concerns about the impact of coal seam gas mining and the technique known as hydraulic-fracturing or fracking but we also need to protect jobs in the industry – this policy strikes a balance.”

Cr Carter said it still doesn’t address some of the key issues raised.

“The 10 point plan doesn’t address the cumulative impacts or infrastructure issues that relate to coal mining and coal seam gas exploration, such as rail and water issues.”

Cr Carter reminded people that the plan or strategy doesn’t affect land in existing exploration areas.