TAMWORTH mayor Col Murray has forecast that coal seam gas development in the region by mining giant Santos will significantly boost jobs prospects and create major economic benefits.
Cr Murray was speaking after a meeting yesterday with Santos executives in Tamworth, one of three with regional councils and business leaders in towns including Gunnedah and Narrabri this week.
He said there would undoubtedly be benefits for Tamworth from any industry development.
The meetings also examined the conclusions of the Allen report, put together by a resources consultancy group and released late last year.
Santos executives defended claims its report on the economic impacts of coal seam gas in North West NSW ignored environmental costs and failed as a proper economic assessment of local communities.
Santos public affairs adviser Sam Crafter and a member of the Allen Consulting Group, which compiled the report, Tim Bradley, are leading the regional visits.
Mr Crafter said the meetings allowed community leaders to speak with them about the report and coal seam gas.
Santos has said the Australian Institute's claims misrepresented the employment creation data contained in the study and that regional communities were already seeing the benefits of the industry, with more than 80 people employed across NSW.
The Australian Institute said local benefits would be quite small, but Santos said the report revealed company projects would see the creation of 2900 jobs through to 2035 and deliver a $470 million boost to North West NSW's economy each year.
Mr Crafter said Tamworth was a focus because it was a "regional hub" and would have a share in the benefits.
Cr Murray said the Santos-Allen report was a fairly credible and global view of the economic benefits the industry would bring.
"There is a strong knock-on effect from these types of industries," Cr Murray said.
The report claims professional services, wholesale retail and trade and the public sectors will benefit most. Critics claim that only Santos's data were used to compile results, but Mr Bradley said Australian Bureau of Statistics and Reserve Bank information was included.
"Advice-giving needs to come from a credible source," he said.
Mr Crafter said there was a wide misconception in Sydney that all regional farmers and residents were anti-coal seam gas and "baying for blood" over an environmental fixation.
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