Farmers face five-week wait

ROLLESTON: Farmers in the Orion district's Golden Triangle face an anxious five-week wait for the State Government to reveal the “who's in and who's out” recommendations from its strategic cropping land review.

Spokesperson and retired MP Jim Pearce said more than 50 farmers and family members expressed fears their properties had already been excluded from being regarded as prime agricultural land at a community cabinet in Roma last weekend.

But Premier Anna Bligh moved quickly to allay their suspicions.

“Her response was no decision had been made as yet; it was being finalised and they expected to release a draft document in five to six weeks,” said Mr Pearce.

“Given that we thought the process was a lot further advanced and that the area was going to be cut out, that certainly eased our concerns.

“She went on to say when the draft document is released it will be going back to the community, in particular to those groups who made submissions, for comment.”

Mr Pearce said Premier Bligh was asked to commit to a visit to the Golden Triangle to see coal exploration drilling rigs encroaching on some of the Central Highlands' best cropping lands.

“She indicated she might consider coming to the area to release the draft document,” he said.

The community cabinet session was picketed by protesters angry at the impact of the coal seam gas industry in the region.

The Government was forced to close down Cougar Energy's underground coal gasification plant near Kingaroy after toxic chemicals were found in groundwater and a neighbouring property.

Mr Pearce said the Central Highlands' contingent was well-spoken in audiences with the Premier, and ministers Stirling Hinchliffe, Tim Mulherin, Stephen Robertson and Annastacia Palaszczuk.