25 September, 2014
CSG licence moratorium is welcome, but important land, water resources, and natural areas are still at risk
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW welcomes reports today that the government has extended the moratorium on issuing new coal seam gas exploration licences. [1]
“We note, however, that a moratorium on the issuing of new licences does nothing to protect communities already affected by CSG developments, including those at Camden in southwestern Sydney,” NCC CEO Kate Smolski said.
“Drinking water catchments are still not protected, neither are important natural assets like the Pilliga Forest, which is set to be carved up and polluted by gas field development.
“It also fails to protect those people living under the shadow of coal seam gas development at Gloucester on the north coast and around the Pilliga in the state’s northwest.
“In the last few weeks we have seen a major gas incident at Camden within a few hundred metres of homes. That is the reality of the risks this industry poses and this announcement today does nothing to address that.
“As the government reviews the areas already open for exploration they must identify no-go zones that protects important agricultural lands and sensitive natural areas that are too important or sensitive to be put at risk by this dangerous, dirty industry.”
[1] www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/fracking-freeze-on-gas-projects-across-nsw-despite-fears-of-price-rises-and-gas-shortages/story-fnii5s3x-1227069624996
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW is a supporter of Our Land, Our Water, Our Future, a campaign uniting scores of community and environment groups calling for no-go zones to protect farmland and rural industries, water resources, special wild places, and residential communities from coal and gas.
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