An environmental consultant says central west farmers, especially those around the Woodstock area near Cowra, shouldn't accept land access agreements from mining companies as something they have to sign.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
OzEnvironmental managing director Warwick Giblin's comment follows concerns raised by Woodstock farmers late last year after an increase in mining exploration in the area.
Born and raised on the land Mr Giblin says he has a "passion for helping out the little guy" who he says "often ends up with the rough end of the pineapple".
"What is pivotal is communication between the parties," Mr Giblin says if landholders are presented with a mining access agreement.
"The parties need to come from a position of respect and understanding of each other's position building a constructive understanding at the start," he said.
"While some miners may be more inclined to be overly assertive in pushing their rights the fact is there are a number of steps in the process to assist landholders.
"The first is to negotiate and then and only then do you move to the next stage of mediation if no agreement has been met.
"The next step is then arbitration if still no agreement is reached.
"And only then is the matter taken to the Land and Environment Court if still no agreement has been met."
Mr Giblin said landholders definitely shouldn't believe they have to sign the first document placed in front of them.
"A document that a miner might place in front of a landowner is only a draft and should be clearly recognised as such by the landholder," he said.
"The landholder should't be convinced that the original document is what the agreement has to be.
"The agreement can be altered dramatically with conditions limiting the amount of time of the access and when during the farm cycle access is allowed.
"Conditions can also be placed on the removal of trees and the road accesses.
"Importantly there is scope to come to a financial arrangement with the miners so that the landholder isn't out of pocket for expert services," Mr Giblin said of landholders looking for assistance when dealing with miners.
Iron ore company Fortescue, which is diversifying into gold and copper, has taken over exploration licences over a number of properties from Canowindra, along the Belubula, over to Woodstock and as far as Wyangala in the past 12 months.
