13 February, 2015
Time for government to follow Central Coast councils’ lead and reject coal seam gas
The NSW Nature Conservation Council has called the NSW Government to follow the lead of Wyong and Gosfords councils, which this week passed unanimous resolutions rejecting coal seam gas mining and exploration in the Central Coast region.
“It’s fantastic that councils on the Central Coast have listened to the community’s concerns about coal seam gas, but without action from our state politicians fracking could still occur in this region,” said the Nature Conservation Council’s Danielle Coleman.
“The only thing that will protect our drinking water catchment is for the government to cancel the Petroleum Exploration Licence 2 (PEL 2) that covers large parts of our Central Coast drinking-water catchment.”
Coal seam gas is a major issue for the Central Coast. On Tuesday, Wyong Shire Council passed a resolution opposing coal seam gas in its local government area. On Wednesday, Gosford City Council followed suit.
Community organisations are calling for bipartisan support for the cancellation of PEL 2, which covers 22 electorates from the Central Coast to Sydney.
“The community on the Central Coast does not want to be exposed to the same disaster that Gloucester is facing, ” Ms Coleman said.
“The drinking-water catchment, special natural areas, farmlands and residential areas of the coast must be declared a coal and coal seam gas no-go zone to restore the faith of the community in our decision makers.
“It’s not just CSG that’s the problem. The proposed Wallarah 2 coal mine is still a looming threat to the Central Coast’s drinking water supply, despite a promise before the 2011 election to protect the catchment from mining.
“As the Central Coast prepares to go to the polls in less than two months, the community deserves to know who will finally stop the Wallarah coal mine expansion and protect the coast from coal seam gas.”
Gosford City Council resolution, 11 February, 2015
“Council reaffirm its 2012 resolution … Protect Gosford Local Government Area from any Coal Seam Gas Exploration or Mining Activity, and support the community not to allow the mining of coal seam gas in the Gosford LGA.” www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/docs/default-source/minutes-2015/minutes---10-february-2015.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Wyong Shire Council resolution, 10 February, 2015
www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/getmedia/723f4c31-70de-49ca-959f-eccf9900f158/OM-11-February-2015-Business-Paper.pdf.aspx
Tags
Coal and gasPlanning and Development
Let others know about this issue