Speaking at Mid-Western Regional Council’s recent Open Day, Alliance interim vice-president, Stuart Andrews, said he was concerned the area is being left out of the planning process because it happens to fall within the boundaries of the Mid-Western Regional Council.

Mr Andrews urged councillors to maintain dialogue and write to respective NSW ministers.

Interim secretary Craig Shaw said in a release water was at the core of the issues the valley is facing.

“It makes no sense at all to leave out this part of the Upper Hunter simply because it falls under a different Council,” he said.

“On top of that, the corridor as a whole is experiencing the fastest rate of coal mining expansion anywhere in the State.

“Excluding it from the Upper Hunter Planning process at this critical juncture would be completely counterproductive.”

The Alliance has written to the NSW Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Brad Hazzard, asking that the scope of the new plan being developed for the Upper Hunter be expanded immediately.

“Mid-Western Regional Council is on-side with our request, and we’re hopeful that others such as the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority will be supporting our call,” Mr Shaw said.

The Alliance and Council have invited Minister Hazzard among other ministers to tour the area.