This audit demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to ensure a balance between agriculture and mining and its commitment to address community concern in areas such as Gloucester and the Manning Valley, said Mr Bromhead.

This audit is in addition to the 60-day moratorium announced by the Liberal/Nationals Government, on issuing exploration licences in NSW for new coal, coal seam gas and petroleum exploration licences.

Mr Bromhead praised the commitment by the government to identify any case of non-compliance with the terms of exploration licences.

“The audit of explorations licences forms part of the staged implementation of the NSW Government’s Strategic Regional Land Use Policy and is expected to be completed towards the end of the year.

“Inconsistencies or non-compliance with the terms of a licence may result in a licence holder being required to provide additional information and may prompt further investigation where necessary,” Mr Bromhead said.

“In stark contrast to the previous Labor government, the NSW Liberal and Nationals government will ensure these arrangements deliver on our election commitments to balancing the rights of landowners and the expectations of miners in each region rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all approach,” Mr Bromhead said.