The online forum is at www.nsw.gov.au/shapeyourstate and is part of public consultation on the NSW Coal and Gas Strategy scoping paper, which is on exhibition until April 15.

Minister for Planning Tony Kelly said as a result of the industry’s growth, debate was emerging about issues associated with mining and coal seam gas production.

“The forum enables the public to join in an interactive online debate about the strategy, with three separate discussions about mining, regional and communication issues,” he said.

The strategy is intended to guide sustainable development of the industry; minimise adverse effects on health, environment, agriculture and land use; ensure efficient and effective regulation of the industry; and improve communication between government, industry and the community.

Mr Kelly said the strategy would help provide certainty for primary industry and communities over future land use, as well as ensure economic, environmental and social sustainability.

The coal industry would play a significant role in the Hunter Valley, the northern part of the Western Basin (which includes the Mid-Western Region) and the Gunnedah Basin in the coming years, he said.

“However, it’s very important regions like the Liverpool Plains and thoroughbred breeding and rich wine areas of the Hunter Valley are protected,” Mr Kelly said.

“That’s why the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association are represented on the Government’s reference group for the Coal and Gas Strategy.”

Preparation of the Coal and Gas Strategy is being led by the Department of Planning with assistance from all key government agencies including Treasury, NSW Health, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Industry and Investment NSW and Transport NSW.

Mr Kelly said the online forum supplements other community consultation on the scoping paper, including a series of regional forums in the state’s four coal regions, the fourth of which was held today in Singleton.

A summary of the issues raised at the first three public forums in Gunnedah, Lithgow and Wollongong can be viewed at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/coalandga s.

“I urge people to lodge a submission regardless of whether they attended one of the forums or not,” Mr Kelly said.

Written submissions on the scoping paper can be sent to Coal and Gas Strategy, Department of Planning, GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001, or emailed to:

coalandgasstrategy@planning .nsw.gov.au