The New South Wales government on Tuesday announced 27 new measures to the Strategic Regional Land Use Policy (SRLUP) aiming to provide greater protection to farmers and to better balance competing land uses.

The new measures include: a new gateway process that will independently and scientifically assess the impacts of mining and CBM production proposals; an Aquifer Interference Policy to assess and protect water resources across the entire state; the requirement for an Agricultural Impact Statement as part of the assessment of exploration proposals; new CBM industry codes of practice covering well drilling standards and hydraulic fracturing; and a requirement for CBM producers to invest in local communities through regional community funds.

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