CSG gets the Green Light in NSW
Not one square inch of NSW has been guaranteed protection.
Our best agricultural lands and environmentally sensitive areas are all up for grabs.
Breaking a raft of pre-election promises the O'Farrell government has effectively ignored the electorate entirely.
The public consultation process for the draft Regional Land Use Plans attracted nearly 1,600 submissions. And did the government listen to farmers, communities, and environmentalists at all? No, they did not!
In the words of the NSW Farmers Association the NSW Government "ignored more than 1,500 submissions asking the government to do a very reasonable thing – protect our land and water."
And it gets worse, the NSW Nature Conservation Council notes that: "In an extraordinary reversal, the NSW Government has removed basic protections for rivers, forests and critical wildlife habitat that were proposed in the draft land use plans. This backward step will leave iconic natural areas like Leard State forest and the Pilliga exposed to the destructive impacts of unprecedented mining and gas expansion."
Immediately following the release of its new policy the O'Farrell government renewed 22 expired CSG exploration licences, most of which are bitterly and legitimately opposed by local communities.
Notable among these is Petroleum Exploration Licence 2 (PEL2) held by AGL that includes much of Sydney's western suburbs and the lower Blue Mountains*.
Yes, it is entirely possible that CSG exploration wells could appear in the Blue Mountains. If you think this unlikely have a look at what is already happening in the Campbelltown area, see: www.scenichills.org.au
The O'Farrell government has also removed the ban on the highly controversial process of "fracking", with all its attendant risks of aquifer damage and contamination.
Drilling in Catchment Area: The O'Farrell government is set to approve CSG exploratory drilling in Sydney's main water catchment area.
This is something Barry O'Farrell had personally ruled out absolutely, and will add yet another broken promise to the now long list.
Prior to the election Barry O'Farrell said: "The next Liberal/National Government will ensure that mining cannot occur … in any water catchment area, and will ensure that mining leases and mining exploration permits reflect that common sense; no ifs, no buts, a guarantee."
And in December 2011 "I don’t intend to allow — particularly after the drought we went through over a decade — mining or any other activity to threaten water resources.”
In August the go-ahead was given for a CSG production well just 40 metres from the Nepean River in Sydney's south-west.
The well operated by AGL was approved "without a public consultation process" (See Sydney Morning Herald 23rd August 2012).
The above actions should not come as a shock given the Government's environmental record to date.
If you, like countless others around the state, find the O'Farrell government's CSG and Mining policies and actions unacceptable then have a look at the Society's flyer on 'What you can do!' and act.
BMCS Project Officer
(Food and Environment)
26th September 2012
