LANDHOLDERS will be encouraged to exercise their rights when dealing with resource companies to safeguard the balance between agriculture and mining at a series of free AgForce Projects Coal Seam Gas (CSG) information sessions next week.
Free sessions will be held in Richmond, Corfield, Hughenden and Charters Towers from November 8-11 and will provide an overview of the expanding CSG industry and tips on how to negotiate the best conduct and compensation agreement (CCA) to minimise the impacts of CSG activity on agricultural land
AgForce projects CSG officer Daniel Phipps said new land access laws provided landholders with greater rights than in the past.
"CSG is now expanding rapidly in the region so landholders need to be fully informed," he said.
"Fortunately, the new land access laws introduced in 2010 cover the exploration phases for both CSG and other types of mining activities, and include mandatory provisions that resource companies must adhere to including conduct and compensation agreements and minimum negotiation time frames."
Mr Phipps said the new laws provided greater balance between mining and agriculture but it was still important landholders actively exercised their rights to ensure they could co-exist with CSG.
He said there was a minimum time frame of 20 business days for landholders and resource companies to negotiate a conduct and compensation agreement before any activity could begin.
"The sessions will also provide landholders with a number of possible conduct provisions to have included in a CCA and tips on developing a comprehensive property map and plan that demonstrates how the proposed CSG activities may impact on the landholder," Mr Phipps said.
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