The Fraser Coast community has cautiously welcomed the announcement that the value of the proposed Colton coal mine has been written down by New Hope Coal and the company is now re-considering the future of the project.

The South Australian Upper House has passed the 10 year fracking moratorium in the South East of South Australia into law, effective in 14 days.

The fracking moratorium follows a lengthy and sustained grassroots campaign from communities in the South East.

Lock the Gate Alliance is calling on the NSW Minister for Resources to release the details of agreements signed with mining company Shenhua Australia after obtained freedom of information laws by the Lock the Gate Alliance raised further questions around the renewal of the exploration licence for the Shenhua Watermark coal mine on the Liverpool Plains near Gunnedah.

New polling released by Lock the Gate today reveals a majority of residents in Muswellbrook and Singleton believe strategic farmland mapped as critical for horse-breeding or wine-growing in the Hunter Valley should be off-limits to coal mining, just as the Independent Planning Commission is considering a new coal mine that would open-cut strategic farmland in the secluded Bylong Valley.

The North West Alliance and Lock the Gate have released the results of door-to-door surveys in Narrabri showing an overwhelming majority of people in favour of renewable energy compared to less than a third that want CSG.

The door-knocking took place from July to September, knocking on 2,300 doors and collecting survey responses from 840 people.