Council rejects coal seam gas mining

A southeast Queensland council wants its agricultural region to be off limits to coal seam gas miners.

Scenic Rim Regional Council is the first local government to openly oppose the burgeoning Queensland industry.

The municipality covers the towns of Beaudesert and Boonah, south of Brisbane, and includes rich agricultural land surrounded by World Heritage-listed national parks.

The council says it is in the final stages of a submission to the state government to have coalmining and coal seam gas exploration banned in the region.

The submission asks Premier Anna Bligh amend the Mineral Resources Act to prevent prospecting, mining and exploration in the region, in the same way that the Springfield area in nearby Ipswich was exempted.

Scenic Rim mayor John Brent says this is an important step towards protecting the region for generations to come.

"Life in the Scenic Rim is based around agriculture, tourism and a relaxed, rural lifestyle," said mr brent, who previously wanted to run for the Liberal National Party in the state seat of Beaudesert..

"Coal seam gas puts the very make-up of our region at risk."

Both the government and the state opposition support the industry, which has gas wells across Queensland.

Mr Brent said the submission argues coal seam gas is not in the public interest and is not the preferred use of the region's land.

"Springfield was granted exemption because the preferred use of their land was residential," he said.

The submission also says coal seam gas mining will threaten heritage-listed national parks, biodiversity, agriculture, indigenous and cultural heritage, tourism, land-based recreation and waterways.

Mr Brent said it will be sent to Ms Bligh and Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman.

He will seek meetings with both.