Mr Baird visited the site of BHP’s proposed underground mine at Caroona and the Shenhua mine site at Breeza with a number of representatives from protest groups.

It was the premier’s third visit to the Liverpool Plains since becoming premier, and he told The Leader on each occasion he had been “struck by the beauty and importance of the area”.

“The clear message we heard during the election campaign locally was that there is a role for coexistence, but it is vitally important that we strike the right balance,” Mr Baird said.

“We are absolutely committed to protecting the water resources and the black soils of the Liverpool Plains – but also ensuring that we are able to offer long-term employment opportunities for the region.”

Caroona Coal Action Group chair Susan Lyle was one of the delegates showing the premier around.

“It was a bit of a fact-finding mission for him – a looking, a learning and a listening exercise,” Ms Lyle said.

“He was very interested in the subsidence issue (at the BHP site).”

Ms Lyle said agriculture and coal mining could not coexist on the Liverpool Plains.

She put forward to the premier some alternative “win-win” developments Shenhua could use the site for. 

“We know Shenhua is an energy company, so they could put a solar energy development there,” Ms Lyle said.

“They could even build a dairy or a feed lot, something that progresses agriculture in the area – you’ve got the Tamworth airport less than 100 kilometres away, so they could basically take (produce) straight to China if that’s what they wished.

“These developments would still create a massive amount of jobs and they would be there for years – not just a 30-year time line, a forever time line.”

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson toured the sites with Mr Baird. 

He reinforced the message of balance between economic development and environmental protection.

“We need to protect agricultural land and water, and to balance that with looking after the region’s economy and the creation of jobs in smaller communities,” Mr Anderson said.

“Every time I talk to Gunnedah residents, they express the view very clearly that they want jobs and they want Gunnedah to grow.

“This issue continues to push the government to make sure we get this right – we have to get this right, whichever way the government decides.”