The stud, located in lush rolling pastures, is so large it even has 80km/h speed limits on its roads. Industry groups say it is at risk from noise, dust and light pollution if the coal mine gets any closer than its current buffer of about 8 kilometres. The Office of Environment and Heritage – previously under Mr Stokes – is assessing the biodiversity impacts of 16 new and expanded coal mines put forward by mining companies in the region, covering more than 40,000 hectares. In addition, there are five more large mines in the planning process that could add another 30,000 hectares of mines, according to activist group Lock the Gate. These areas include the Broke-Fordwich wine region and the rural corridor between Muswellbrook and the Wybong Valley, and are likely to cause wider friction as projects are put up for approval. Mr Stokes said he was aware of the scale of ventures under consideration and Tuesday's visit would not be a one-off. "I plan to be a constant visitor to the area, as I will be to other areas where there are contentious development applications," Mr Stokes said outside a local hall at Bulga.

"Just because somebody applies doesn't mean every application will get approved," he said, adding that there would be areas where mines are not appropriate. "We've got to get those messages out early on in the process so that we don't get to the situation where there's heightened conflict," he said. Some of that conflict was on display on Tuesday, sometimes within the same family. Sam Robinson, an operator of graders, drilling and other equipment at the Drayton South Mine, said she and some of her colleagues did not know if their jobs would last beyond June because of the mine's uncertain future. Other jobs in the sector were few with recent closures or cuts as a result of weak global coal prices. "It's a bit strange that a mine that wants to go ahead can't do it," Ms Robinson said.

On the other hand, she also breeds and trains horses for harnessing at nearby Mitchells Flat, and "wouldn't want to live next to [a coal mine]" for her family or her horses. At the nearby Darley stud, Phil Harris, a farm manager whose former partner works in coal mining, said the struggles of the coal industry were a good reason to preserve other sectors. "It's not the horse industry that's putting people off," Mr Harris said. At the Rio Tinto mine near Bulga, several miners discussed the on-going friction with the wider community, with one maintenance worker saying that "coal is a conversation killer" in social settings. Brianna Millgate, a recently hired mining engineer from the University of NSW, said she and new recruits were grateful to have a job at all considering the sharp downturn of the industry.

"Four years ago, 99 per cent of the graduates would have got a job," Ms Millgate said, adding that barely a quarter of her class of 60 had. "Some of my friends are employed in Coles or Woolworths," she said. Rio Tinto wants to expand its mine within 2.6 km of Bulga, and last year even hired consultants to consider the impacts of a further expansion bringing it within about 500m of residents. Jasmine Kaizer, the 11-year-old captain of the local primary school, attempted to present Mr Baird with a bottle of tank rainwater her family says was polluted by coal dust blowing from the existing Rio mine. "I asked him 'would you let your kids drink this and would you drink it?'," Miss Kaizer said, adding the Premier didn't respond.

"[The mine's] getting closer, that's my greatest fear," her mother, Kylie, said. Nerida Lepisto, another resident in the area, said the focus on Bulga versus Rio was too narrow, and that the community should be taking aim at all five coal mines nearby. "Why don't they fight the lot of them?" Ms Lepisto said. Georgina Woods, a spokeswoman for Lock the Gate, said the government "needs to account for the mines already approved or operating" rather than approve new ones. "It's already at a crisis point, both environmentally and socially," she said.