They’re so concerned after their questions about the exploration proposal, which covers an area of 1800 square kilometres, have been unanswered that they have called a meeting to discuss mining and its potential impact on prime agricultural land.

Loomberah landholders Kevin Tongue and Ildu Monticone say that questions put to the exploration licence holder were not answered to the satisfaction of people in the district.

At the heart of the issue are a number of mining licence advertisements published in The Leader and The Land in late June on behalf of a New Zealand-based private company called Gold of Ophir Pty Ltd.

The total area covered by all the applications is about 1800 square kilometres.

Mr Monticone said he’d tried to contact the licence applicant.

Instead, he had tracked down Australian Mining and Exploration Title Services managing director Leanne Morley, from Tamworth, who carries out consultancy work for the explorers in their quest to properly advertise the licence acquisitions.

He said Gold of Ophir Pty Ltd had also refused an invitation to come to a meeting at Loomberah Hall next week to discuss the company’s plans.

“We have a whole lot of concerns: whether the mining activity would impact on our aquifers and underground water; would any mining be open cut; and if it was gold mining, what sort of chemicals would be used to extract the precious metal?” Mr Monticone said.

“We need to know if they use toxic chemicals to extract the gold; whether our water tables will be impacted.

“There are a few concerns about water.”

Mr Monticone and Mr Tongue said if mining did start, the residents of Tamworth should be wary because the exploration was in a catchment area upstream from the city’s main water supply collection point.

Mr Tongue said that historically, minerals were known to be in the district with two copper mines – now long closed – in the area in Fishers Ln and near the Dungowan tennis courts.

The meeting will be held on Thursday of next week at 7pm at Loomberah Hall.

The guest speaker will be NSW Farmers’ Association president Fiona Simson. Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson will also be there.