First Nations communities in north-west NSW have welcomed the passage of a motion in the Upper House calling for the protection of culturally significant sites in the footprint of a proposed coal mine.
Shenhua Energy plans to extract about 10 million tonnes of coal from an open-cut mine on the Liverpool Plains, near Gunnedah.
But there are fears the project could destroy a variety of culturally significant artefacts, including grinding grooves which mark burial sites.
Gomeroi traditional custodian Veronica "Dolly" Talbott said the political support for the preservation of the sites was encouraging.
"The last thing we want is to see what's sacred to us blown up out there," she said.
"These are things that go on in the teachings of Aboriginal culture to our children."
Motion passes unopposed
Greens MLC Cate Faerhmann moved the motion, which the Government did not oppose, and said it had implications for whether the company would receive a mining licence.
"If the Government is going to heed that motion … then I think it might be very difficult for them to approve or grant the mining lease," Ms Faehrmann said.
"It's very significant that Government members seemed to feel so strongly that not a single voice was registered in opposition to this motion."
The Deputy Premier and Minister for Industry, John Barilaro, did not respond to a request for comment from the ABC.
The Government has the authority to cancel the company's exploration licence if it does not apply for a mining lease by the end of June.
A spokesperson for Shenhua said the company had no comment in response to the motion.
On its website the company said it had plans for two Aboriginal heritage conservation areas.
Meanwhile, Ms Talbott has taken Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley to court over her refusal to grant heritage protection to the area last year.
The matter is currently before the Federal Court.
