THE NSW Mineral Resources Minister is expected to reject pleas that mining exploration licence renewals will be damaging to the Gloucester shire when he meets with a delegation in January 2009.
A number of residents are concerned that renewing open-cut mining licences may interfere with the agricultural industry and are pushing for the minister to reject mining renewals.
However, in a statement to The Herald, Resources Minister, Ian Macdonald indicated he would not agree to the requests.
"Mining provides jobs to rural communities and helps keep young people at home. Mining and agriculture must co-exist,” he said.
Macdonald says mining sites represent a “fraction of the size of exploration areas”, and claims any mining proposals are subject to “rigorous environmental assessments”.
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