12 April, 2013
CSG exclusion zones leave water, wildlife and public health at risk
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales lodged a submission today calling on the NSW government to expand its proposed exclusion zone on new CSG activities to include critical water resources, farmland, rural communities and areas of high conservation value.
“For residents concerned about CSG development in urban areas, the proposed changes to the state environmental planning policy represent a victory for common sense and local community action,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Officer Pepe Clarke said.
“But for many others, this amendment will not deliver peace of mind. For a government that promised real change on mining and gas regulation, much unfinished business remains.
“Drinking water catchments are still not protected from CSG and mining, neither are important natural assets like the Pilliga Forest, which is set to be carved up and polluted by CSG development, and the Gardens of Stone, which is threatened by an open-cut coal mine proposal.
“Local communities in the Hunter Valley, including our world-class thoroughbred industry, will still be threatened by air pollution from the rapid expansion of the coal mining industry.
“Of particular concern is the clause that allows local councils to ‘opt out’ of the new safeguards. This loophole is big enough to drive a drill rig through, if the NSW government is serious about giving local councils a say on CSG projects this power must be matched with an equal power for councils to say no to new CSG developments.
“The government must seize the opportunity to respond to well-founded community concerns about unrestrained mining and gas expansion and amend the policy to include damaging coal projects and deliver real protection for public health, water resources and natural areas.”
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Coal and gas
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