13 August, 2013
State government puts mining industry interests ahead of communities and the environment
Planned changes to rules governing the assessment of major mining projects pose a serious risk to local communities, sensitive industries and the environment, the Nature Conservation Council of NSW has warned.
Campaigns Director Kate Smolski said proposed amendments to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries) 2007 stacked the system further in favour of the powerful mining industry.
“It will create greater uncertainty for communities and rural industries that have for too long been put at risk by the poorly-regulated expansion of the mining industry,” Ms Smolski said.
“The proposed changes will require decision makers to give even more weight to economic considerations than is already the case.
“They will also make it harder to refuse polluting mining proposals if they meet minimum standards for noise, dust and vibration, yet make it easier to approve developments that exceeded them. These are dangerous changes and should not be accepted.”
Key objections to the proposals outlined in NCC’s submission, lodged yesterday, include:
- Economic factors dominate. The amendments fundamentally shift the balance in favour of the mining industry by mandating that mining and gas proposals be assessed primarily on economic benefits of exploiting the resource. Environmental and social factors should be given at least equal weight when assessing mining development.
- Air quality standards compromised. The proposed standard for PM10 particulate pollution for private dwellings (annual average <30μg/m3) is weaker than national standards. Relying on an annual average standard, rather than the national 24-hour average standard, will allow for routine exceedences of the national standard (24-hour average <50μg/m3).
- Inadequate consultation. The two-week consultation period was inadequate for meaningful community engagement on the issue.
- An ad hoc approach to planning. Amending planning laws during a major review of the planning system undermines public confidence in the process.
“These changes to the mining planning policy are unfair and unbalanced and will result in serious risks to local communities and the environment,” Ms Smolski said.
“Fast-tracking these changes during the wider review of the planning system will further undermine community confidence in the broader reform process.”
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Coal and gas
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