The loss of prime farm land is a constant concern, as the likes of urban sprawl and gas/coal, exploration/minng will continue to take their toll.

One suggestion would be to have mandatory laws to protect such land and this could be achieved through testing for the likes of PH levels.

Put simply, a government agency would need to carry out a series of simple soil tests, to determine the suitability of land for recognizing it as 'prime' farm land.

If the area in question falls within the peramiters, it simp,y becomes a 'no go, zone.

There is plenty of arid land available to build houses etc, and a few loads of top soil can easily solve the poor soil issues for the green thumbs.

Of cause, there will be the down side, one such being the fact that future generations couldnt take the easy option, of selling to the developers.

Mining is out of control in qld and CN wants to take the brakes off.

Careful there rehctub, your are starting to sound like a communist. Who's land is it anyway.

Besides this talk about loss of prime farming land is just that, talk.

In my area, just south of Brisbane, I could take you to thousands of acres of rich black soil river flats, with in a few minutes drive, which is used for nothing more useful than to graze a few old horses.

Farming is such a fools errand today, that no one, under 50 years of age will do it. My area is down to a couple of turf farms, one dairy, & a couple of lucerne growers. The last market gardens stopped trying to make a living years ago.

Incidentally, our Labor governments banned subdivision in my area a few years back. I don't think that was for communist tendencies. It had more to do with better payola, if they gave, [sold perhaps] all development rights to a couple of big players, rather than let us peasants get into the act ourselves.

Ban all mining and mining exploration on prime agricultural land.

GR I would suggest that the miners shoukd be told to find a way of extracting thier spoils, without disturbing the surface of the land.

If that proves too hard, then so be it.

Has been, I understand your point with regards to subdivision, so perhaps if the land is locked out, in other words, the zoning changed, or rezoning not allowed, then perhaps there needs to be some form of compensation.

I know people who have sat on land for years, thinking they could retire one day by subdividing, only to have their plans foiled by government legislation.

As for river flats being farmed, a large deterrent is insurance on crops, as it can be cost prohibitive.

Not a problem round here rehctub, our little coastal rivers go up & down in hours.

Even at my place, just below the confluence of 2 irrigation rivers, the water courses are so deep, [about 60/70Ft], that they rarely top their banks.

We have had water over the flats only once in 20 years. That was for only hours, & only a few centimeters deep. Those growing stuff sensitive to wet feet, like lucerne & couch have all laser leveled.

Being a cheep skate, I waited for a big rain to show me the low spots. I lost a few acres of lucerne grading the paddock to fill the low spots. A few hours with a grader, & no problem since.