Most of us who live in this region know the land in the Liverpool Plains, around Gunnedah and heading north through Narrabri to Moree and up to the border has always been held in high regard by the farming fraternity.

However, we are now discovering that underneath that terrific farming soil is an Aladdin’s cave of wealth in mineral resources. And now the question is: what are our priorities or what is in the best interest of our state and nation?

Despite being painted otherwise by green groups in years gone by, farmers are sustainable stewards of the land. Now the farmers and the greens are bedfellows in the fight against the mineral resource explorers.

Once natural gas was seen as a viable alternative to coal-fired electricity generation, now there is virulent opposition to the mining of coal seam gas, either on farm land and or state forests to the west of the region.

The arguments of the gas miners that the system of wells and pipelines in non-intrusive does not wash with those who care for the topsoils and grow crops of food and fibre worth many millions, but in monetary terms, it pales under the bright glare of gas production.

A proposal to build quarters at Werris Creek for people employed in the industry worth an estimated $48 million has been met with positive reaction in the small township.

But there is no escaping the polarising effect that mining brings to those who live in the region.

The previous government was seen as single-minded in its quest to issue exploration licences and to reap the revenue that came with them.

Already the new government, seen by most landholders as the party of their persuasion, is coming under great pressure to legislate to protect prime agricultural land from the advances of the resources companies.

It is a whole new landscape in more ways than one.