The Australian Institute of Agricultural Science & Technology (AIAST) QLD Division Conference ‘Can Agriculture & Mining Co-Exist? – a science based perspective’ was held on 12 October 2010 in Toowoomba.

The event attracted well over 100 attendees and highlighted the challenge of co-existence for mining and agriculture.

Attendees heard from farmers, the Queensland Resources Council, and from scientists who were assisting with the development of sustainable agriculture and resource management policies for the Queensland Government.

Although all types of mining were under the spotlight, the focus of the conference centred on coal mining, and in particular coal seam gas (CSG) extraction.

Coal mining has expanded rapidly in Queensland both in the Fitzroy Basin and in the Surat Basin. Open Cut coal mining has been a major activity in Central Queensland while CSG extraction has proliferated in the Surat Basin.

A very informative Post-Event Report has been written by David Hamilton, one of our AIAST QLD Division members.

The Post-Event Report can be found at http://aiast.com.au

Major coverage

In a move that is perhaps appropriate for a region with mining activity, the wealth of knowledge of local retired professionals will be 'mined' as part of a novel project, called "Grey Power: Networking community wisdom in environmental management".

The Loudoun Weir Fishway will be the first fishway in Australia to be completed with financial support from corporate investment. Dalby’s local Civil Construction firm Ostwald Bros have led this challenge assisted by GHD Toowoomba and Arrow Energy to ensure the fishway on Loudoun Weir would become operational in time for the next big rain.