Yorke Peninsula farmers protest in Adelaide over planned copper mine Landowners from Yorke Peninsula held a protest on the proposed Rex Minerals Cooper Mine,on the steps of Parliament House. Among the protesters, 2yo Murphy Klopp, the son of Sandilands farmers, Sarah and Greg Klopp, was more interested in playing with his toy farm machinery. DOZENS of Yorke Peninsula farmers protested peacefull on the steps of parliament house today over potential environmental, tourism and land value concerns from a proposed mine marked for the rich farming region. The farmers left their crops and livestock to be in Adelaide today, where they heavily criticised the Rex Minerals plan for a multi-million dollar copper mine near Ardrossan. Fourth generation Pine Point farmer Brenton Davey, who shares a fence boundary with the proposed mine, spoke on behalf of the community at the event. He stressed the importance of the region's prime farming land in providing dairy, livestock, seafood and grains both for the state and overseas. "Food production is forever, but mining has an end point," he said. Farmer Stewart Lodge, who owns land in Ardrossan, said potential dust from the mine could effect farming crops. Urania farmer Emma Leonard agreed. " (It is) some of the most secure farming country in Australia, if not the most reliable," she said. (We very rarely) are affected by drought, frost or flooding. She said the mine had huge implications for Adelaide residents too, with hundreds of people owning holiday homes along the peninsula. Ms Leonard also expressed concern on the dust, which would be omitted from mining activity. (It could) coat and contaminate the grains (and) we could loose export markets. Decreased land value, tourism and environmental factors were other concerns addressed at the rally. Greens MP Mark Parnell, Family First's Robert Brokenshire and local MP for Goyder Steven Griffiths were also at the rally. An hour before, members of the Yorke Peninsula Landowners Association met with Mining and Resources Minister Tom Kousantonis, where they voiced their concerns about the project. Farmer Ben Wundersitz, who owns a property in Maitland, said the meeting "went OK." "Overall the meeting went OK... we are looking for a fair process," Mr Wundersitz said. Mr Brokenshire and Mr Parnell will put forward amendments to the current Mining (Royalties) Amendment Bill which is currently being debated in the Legislative Council. Mr Brokenshire said at present, the bill was "weighted heavily towards mining not agriculture." Submissions to the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy close tomorrow and will be assessed over the coming months. A statement from the Minister's office said the process would be lengthy.