FEDERAL Member for New England Tony Windsor will be the guest speaker at the next Sustainable Living Armidale (SLA) monthly public forum held on Thursday May 2.
He will discuss his efforts to ensure aquifers, ground water and rivers are protected from new mining developments.
A co-operative approach between the Commonwealth and the various state governments was attempted first, but the NSW Government baulked at ensuring advice from a federally-funded Independent Expert Scientific Committee was properly considered as part of the NSW mining approvals process.
Since then, legislation has been passed by the Federal House of Representatives and is before the senate to ensure coal seam gas projects and coal mines can’t go ahead until independent scientific assessments determine they won’t damage water resources.
“It is important for us to understand what this means in practical terms and to what degree this will lead to greater scientific scrutiny of our entire water system,” said SLA’s Patsy Asch.
“Mr Windsor played a central role in formulating this legislation, so we are fortunate that he can explain the policy in person. “
Mr Windsor will be speaking on Thursday, 2 May at 7pm at Kent House, opposite Central Park on Faulkner Street.
