6 February, 2013
Federal Government must intervene to protect water, wildlife and local communities
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW today backed calls by independent MP Tony Windsor for stronger national regulation of mining and gas projects to minimise the industry’s impacts on communities and water resources.
NCC Chief Executive Officer Pepe Clarke said the NSW Government’s failure to effectively regulate the impacts of the mining and gas industries on communities and water resources made greater federal involvement essential.
“The Federal Government must legislate to create a regulatory framework that provides improved protection for water, wildlife and local communities threatened by the rapidly expanding mining and gas industries,” Mr Clarke said.
“This must include a high level of protection for rivers, streams and aquifers, and place important natural areas like the Pilliga and Leard Forest off limits to destructive mining and gas development.
“Local communities across the country, from Chinchilla to the Hunter Valley, are bearing witness to the failure of state governments to control runaway mining and gas expansion.
“The support of the independent MPs gives the Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke and the Gillard Government an historic opportunity to establish an effective national system for regulating these destructive industries.
“NCC shares Mr Burke’s concerns about the adequacy and rigour of the processes the NSW Government uses to assess these harmful developments and urges him to work with the independent MPs to urgently strengthen federal environmental laws.
“Any new arrangements for the regulation of mining and gas must deliver real change on the ground. Failure to do so will have very real political consequences for state and federal governments.
“If the Mr Burke is serious about protecting the environment and communities from the serious negative impacts of mining and gas, he has an opportunity this week to demonstrate his bona fides by refusing consent for the controversial Maules Creek and Boggabri mine developments in Leard State Forest.”
Mr Clarke said the State Government had failed to deliver on a pre-election pledge to protect drinking water catchments and prime agricultural land through the Strategic Regional Land Use process.
Tags
Coal and gas
Let others know about this issue