The MP was in Gloucester recently and was critical of the government’s decision to approval the AGL gas project so close to the state election.

She said any incoming government should re-look at the AGL project and the approval should be put on hold until it can be “proved that local waterways and aquifers are safe”.

Ms Faehrmann said the Greens are concerned about the loss of productive agricultural land not only in the Gloucester valley but across the state as a result of mining and gas extraction.

She said in communities like Gloucester resource exploration was proving to a divisive issue, and towns were now very different communities to what they were five to 10 years ago.

She said across the state resource extraction is occurring at an unprecedented rate.

“… accessing resources at a scale never seen before and regional communities are experiencing an onslaught from coal and gas companies,” she said.

Ms Faehrmann said what was needed was for legislation that has almost national park status for the protection of agricultural land.

“Currently there is no protection of agricultural land, and that really needs to change.”

“There needs to be a line drawn in the sand to protect agricultural land,” she said.

Ms Faehrmann said following this Saturday’s election the incoming government needs to come out strongly and make an assessment of what is being lost as a result of mining but she questioned whether a government would be prepared and willing to sacrifice mining.

She said in particular a moratorium needed to be put in place in relation to coal seam gas where she said more information is needed about potential impacts and risks associated with the industry.

Ms Faehrmann said the approval of the AGL project so late in the government’s term “should not have happened”.

She said the AGL application should be assessed under a new regime, and a moratorium should be in place until all the risks are known.

She said her tour of the state, the “cost of mining tour” was looking at the culmulative impacts of mining and took in Gloucester, the Illawarra, the Casino area, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Lithgow and Orange.