Grape growers from Broke, Bulga, Fordwich, Belford, Lovedale and Pokolbin are on a mission to collect at least 10,000 signatures advocating a pause to AGL Energy’s coal seam exploration and production.

“We need to be heard in Macquarie Street and we need to have our region’s coal seam gas issues resolved now and the coal seam methane gas industry excluded from the vineyard regions,” Hunter Valley Protection Alliance chairman Stewart Ewen said.

“The government understands votes and understands petitions, which have thousands of names to them asking for their consideration.

“We want to reach out to our locals, to wine country visitors, to wine lovers to those who cherish their properties and the environment.”

The petition – to be sent to the state government – calls for the legislative assembly to protect lands from any “future contemplated coal seam methane gas exploration or extraction”.

In recent months the alliance, Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association, the Thoroughbred Breeders of the Hunter, the NSW Farmers Association, The Greens and several environmental lobby groups have all upped their campaigns against the increase of the coal seam gas industry.

“The impact of the valley would be disastrous if this is allowed to proceed,” Broke grape grower Graeme Gibson said.

“Coal seam mining could be the end of the Hunter Valley wine industry and tourism industry as we know it, ruining the environment and certainly the end of our businesses, lifestyles, property values and wines.

“Western Australia is legislating to protect the Margaret River, and South Australia is legislating to protect McLaren Vale and the Barossa. We need the NSW government to follow suit in relation to the Hunter.”

Overseas, France has banned the coal seam gas industry and New York has placed a moratorium on further exploration and production until the science can be better evaluated.

“We must protect the valley from coal seam methane gas miners. AGL Energy is the methane miner currently exploring our area,” Mr Gibson said.

“The potential damage to water, soil and the multitude of small businesses is beyond calculation.”

n For more information or to view the petition visit http://huntervalleyprotectionalli ance.com.