All landholders are invited to the event, which will be organised by the Senate Committee for Rural Affairs and Transport References.

The meeting will address management of the Murray-Darling Basin, in particular the impact of mining coal seam gas.

It’ll be the first appearance for Fiona Simson, who will give evidence to the inquiry, as the NSW Farmers’ Association president.

The inquiry will investigate the economic, social and environmental impact of mining coal seam gas and will focus on the sustainability of water, the property rights of landholders, prime agricultural land, associated health impacts and impacts on regional

communities.

“One hundred per cent of Australia’s rice, 95 per cent of Australia’s oranges, 62 per cent of Australia’s pigs, 54 per cent of Australia’s apples and 48 per cent of Australia’s wheat is grown within the Basin,” Mrs Simson said.

“Most people I’ve spoken to at our regional meetings are concerned about what’s being done to protect our precious water resources, which are so crucial to farming, and our contribution to global food security, from the impacts of mining and coal seam gas.

“We also want to know why the impacts of mining and coal seam gas weren’t considered in the guide to the Basin plan.”

Member for Parkes Mark Coulton encouraged all landholders and community members to attend the forum.

He said coal seam gas exploration was a contentious issue and its presence had increased in the area in recent years.

“There is a lot of uncertainty of the risks associated with mining coal seam gas, especially in terms of agricultural productivity and the potential adverse effects on underground aquifers,” Mr Coulton said.

“I believe an inquiry in this area will enable the resource companies a forum to explain the extent of their proposed activities, as well as give local farmers an opportunity to voice their concerns.”