State member for Barwon Kevin Humphries, a representative from federal member for Parkes Mark Coulton’s office and Nationals deputy leader and primary industries opposition spokesman Andrew Fraser will attend.

Mr Humphries said the delegation’s objective was “the same as it always was, to meet with the Caroona group and to get an update.”

He insisted the party visit was “not the story. The story is the blockade.”

The delegation would listen to the concerns of Caroona residents, Mr Coulton said.

“I think it needs to be said my predecessor John Anderson worked very hard to get a ground study of the Liverpool Plains area.

“I can’t speak for the party but it’s my belief that all avenues of study and consultation should take place.”

State member for Tamworth Peter Draper said he understood the visit was in doubt.

Mr Draper compared the landholders to “David and Goliath”.

“They have their backs to the wall trying to protect some of Australia’s richest agricultural country,” Mr Draper said.

Mr Draper claimed The Nationals had connections to the mining

industry which could take precedence over the interests of farmers.

He said he would press for an independent study into the effects of any potential coal mine in the Caroona basin.

Mr Draper was not convinced that groundwater would be enough to dissuade BHP from attempting to mine the Liverpool Plains region.

“There are many precedents for scepticism,” he said.

“They (the residents) have to keep fighting.”

Residents’ spokeswoman Fiona Simson said she was aware of some “political argy-bargy” yesterday regarding the planned Nationals’ visit.