Group chairman Graham Brown said he hoped the Upper Hunter Shire Council would impose a total ban on coal mining and coal gas seam extraction within the shire’s boundaries.

“In the interests of everyone’s health, we support a council ban on coal mining, coal seam gas extraction and carbon sequestration,” Mr Brown said.

“When coal is extracted and burned at power stations and at the mines it creates harmful emissions causing numerous health problems in the greater human environment.

“We need to maintain our air

quality and to do that we need better air quality monitoring and to say no to coal mining, gas extraction and carbon sequestration in our area,” Mr Brown said.

Upper Hunter Shire Council general manager Daryl Dutton said the council would develop its own

strategy for mining based on community consultation and the outcomes of the state government’s coal and gas strategy.

“Individuals or community groups are welcome to make their own submissions directly to the NSW state government coal and gas strategy which is currently open for public comment,” he said.

“We’d also be happy to receive copies of their submissions which may help to inform council of the community’s views on this issue.”

He said the council would look at the shire’s coal and gas strategy at the next council meeting on Monday and members of the community were welcome to attend.

Mr Dutton said there was one registered coal mine within the shire’s boundaries at Dartbrook, near Aberdeen, but that it was not in operation.

To find out more about the state government coal and gas strategy or to make a submission, go to www.

planning.nsw.gov.au/Strate gic

Planning/CoalandGasStrategy /.

Submissions close on April 15.