6 November, 2013
State government puts mining industry interests ahead of communities and the environment
The state government’s new Mining SEPP, slated for gazettal this week [1], poses a serious risk to local communities, sensitive industries and the environment, the Nature Conservation Council of NSW has warned.
NCC Campaigns Director Kate Smolski said the new State Environmental Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries) 2007 stacked the system further in favour of the privileged mining industry and sidelined the interests of the broader community and the environment.
“It creates greater uncertainty for communities and rural industries that have been put at risk by the poorly-regulated expansion of the mining industry for far too long,” Ms Smolski said.
“Now decision makers will have to give even more weight to economic considerations than is already the case. This policy is unfair and unbalanced and will result in serious risks to local communities and the environment.
“They will also make it harder to refuse polluting mining proposals if they meet minimum standards for noise, dust and vibration, and yet make it easier to approve developments that exceeded them.
“These dangerous changes have been met with widespread opposition and are clearly out of step with what the community wants.”
NCC’s key objections to the policy, as were outlined in its submission to the review in August, include the following:
- 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). It also does not refer to the 24-hour average, which was exceeded 77 times in the Hunter Valley last month.
- 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.
[1] http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/planning-changes-good-news-for-big-coal-projects/story-e6frgczx-1226752388980#sthash.Pzw3kyXm.dpuf
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Coal and gas
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