6 March, 2015
CSG cancellation welcome, but the real threat to Sydney’s water catchment remains
The NSW government’s cancellation of a coal seam gas exploration licence over Sydney is welcome but does not address the greatest threat to the water catchment for almost five million people, according to the NSW Nature Conservation Council.
Sydney’s drinking water catchment is covered by Petroleum Exploration Licence 2 (PEL 2), currently held by AGL, which stretches from Sydney’s water catchment in the south to the Blue Mountains and north to the Central Coast.
“AGL’s coal seam gas exploration licence that covers Sydney’s drinking water catchment must be the next area to be bought back by the government,” said Nature Conservation Council CEO Kate Smolski.
“In our growing city it is extremely poor policy to allow risky CSG to be developed in our drinking water catchment.”
Today’s cancellation is welcome recognition of the risks of coal seam gas and the widespread community opposition to it, but it does not address the largest threat to Sydney’s drinking water catchment: longwall coal mining.
“While CSG exploration and extraction looms as a potential threat to Sydney’s drinking water catchment, underground coal mining is already causing real harm to the catchment every day.
“Existing coal mines drain over 3 million litres of water from our water catchment every year.
"The Planning Assessment Commission is currently assessing an expansion project that would increase mining in the catchment.
"While coal mining continues to happen in our catchment, we will continue to lose over 12 billion glasses of pure water every year.”
Ms Smolski said that across NSW, local communities, farmers, and business owners were standing up to oppose the expansion of the coal seam gas.
“From the the Liverpool plains to the Central Coast and Camden, the community is demanding a clear commitment to no-go zones for coal and coal seam gas,” she said.
Last Sunday, more than 250 volunteers took to the streets of the Manly electorate with a community survey, asking residents their views on coal and coal seam gas mining.
Ninety-six per cent wanted the Government to do more to protect water catchments, farmlands and forests. Ninety per cent believed coal and gas companies had too much influence over our government.
On Thursday, Opposition Leader Luke Foley announced a Labor government would permanently protect the special areas of Sydney’s drinking water catchment from coal seam gas.
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