Queensland farmers want voice on resource projects, saying even best farmland at risk of mining Agforce spokesman Arthur Gearon says landholders want an equal say with government and resource proponents on what activities should proceed on farming land. FARMERS want to be given equal party status and a right to say the best quality cropping land should not be impacted by resource development. Peak lobby group Agforce yesterday said this was not a right of veto but a demand for a greater say in the negotiations for non-agricultural development on farmland. The push by Agforce follows several years of massive resource development on farmland, particularly coal seam gas, which is encroaching on the blacksoil country near Dalby. The reaction in many regional areas has been severe and farmers also want an arbitration forum that would precede hearings in the Land Court. Agforce said the State Government's draft regional plans should include securing the agreement of the landholder for resource activities on land being used for a priority agricultural land use. Agforce spokesman Arthur Gearon said despite the Government's new planning regime there was still a risk the state's best and most productive land would not be adequately protected. "Even if identified as high quality agricultural land under the Government's analysis there is still potential for permanent impacts from non-agricultural pursuits unless certain criteria are met," Mr Gearon said. Landholders want an equal say with government and resource proponents on what activities should proceed. This would not constitute a right of veto, but would provide a process by which a landholder could have a greater say on what a reasonable impact might be, down to a call for no impact where the highest quality agricultural land is involved and there is a significant risk of permanent loss of productive capability. We are talking about our most precious soil and water resources which are fundamental to the success of our rural sector. The best land we have and it's irreplaceable. This land must be protected and producers must have certainty that this protection is effective if they are to achieve the Government's target of a doubling of agricultural production. Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said both the draft state planning policy and draft statutory regional plans provided recognition of the importance agricultural land uses. Under the SPP, local government planning must recognise and protect resources such as soil and water and provide for agricultural growth while the SRPs identify priority agricultural areas and provide for protection through development of co-existence criteria which will control other proposed land uses.