Speaking to ILN at the annual Minerals Industry Safety Conference, Hartcher said a national approach to approvals of longwall mining and coal seam gas extraction was needed to ensure NSW was not left at a competitive disadvantage.

“Longwall mining is a very efficient form of mining but in some areas it is a very controversial form of mining and we’ve got to balance that … we’ve got to protect the water and we’ve introduced the aquifer regulation,” he said.

“We’re not coming from the view that we want longwall mining or don’t want longwall mining [but] the old days of saying ‘there it is, go for it’ are over.

“We’ve also got to protect the farmland. This area has magnificent farmland and that’s got to be protected.

“The federal government has an interest in this and there is already a private member’s bill before the federal parliament sponsored by [independent MP] Tony Windsor.

“So we have to work to address the concerns that they have and that’s what we would like to do – have a national approach.”

Hartcher said the NSW government was undertaking a wide-ranging audit into practices under the previous Labor government, where mining approvals were being granted without due process.

“Unfortunately the previous government used to charge hundreds of millions of dollars for exploration licenses and that created an expectation that once you found it you would get the mining lease,” he said.

“When it comes to a mining lease, you’ve got to pay the government and you’ve got to adhere to strict requirements.

“So when it comes to BHP Billiton and Shenhua in the Liverpool Plains, if they are going to go forward they are going to have to comply with very strict requirements. We’re not going to be bound by any ‘understanding’ that there was in the past.”

“Strategically the reference group are going to work through the appropriate rules for the areas.”

Included under the O’Farrell government’s agenda will be greater public consultation, heavy environmental requirements and an extension of a ban on hydraulic fracturing until the end of the year.

All new coal and coal seam gas exploration licence applications in NSW will not be able to use evaporative ponds relating to coal seam gas.

Applicants proposing to extract more than 3 megalitres per year from groundwater sources will be required to hold a water access licence.

The moratorium on fraccing has been extended until 31 December this year.

Hartcher said the NSW coal mining and coal seam industry could learn from Queensland’s experiences.

“We want to get a national approach to harmonisation,” he said.

“That’s why we’re talking about getting a tripartite approach with federal, Queensland and New South Wales on the issues of coal and coal gas extraction to ensure that there is a level playing field and to ensure that there’s no competitive disadvantage and to ensure that there are the highest standards.

“Queensland started first … so they’ve made some mistakes and problems have arisen. We can take advantage from that and learn from that. We don’t have to repeat their mistakes.

“And we would do it in conjunction with Canberra. It’s crazy to think we could do it alone.

More than 500 miners gathered in the Hunter Valley today at the NSW minerals industry’s biggest OHS conference to continue working towards the goal of zero harm.

NSW Minerals Council CEO Dr Nikki Williams said the industry’s world class health and safety achievements should be celebrated.

Dr Williams will join NSW Minerals Council chairman Mick Buffier in addressing the conference on the risks ahead as the new harmonised OHS laws are implemented.

“This is a landmark year for OHS reform and I congratulate the New South Wales government on its success in finally bringing our system into the 21st century,” she said.

“The conference will hear, however, that the states risk tripping up this genuine reform by having very different mining regulations, which are completely at odds with the purpose of the Prime Minister’s WHS Act.

“We have the best safety record in the mining industry in the world, but we will not and cannot rest on our laurels. There simply is nothing more important than the health and safety of our workforce.”