Strategic regional land use policy set for release

The state government is expected to release a draft of its long-awaited strategic regional land use policy today. It is understood the document will not include ‘‘ring-fencing’’ of sensitive land, leaving no area off limits from coal seam gas activities despite the hopes of groups such as the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance that the region’s vineyards would be explicitly protected. The NSW Farmers Association was briefed on the draft yesterday, and it will be outlined to the Coalition party room in Sydney today, reports the Newcastle Herald.