Greens call for a moratorium on gas mining

The Greens are calling for a moratorium on all coal seam gas mining amid community backlash of the State Government’s approval to allow drilling in St Peters to go ahead.

On Monday evening at Petersham Town Hall residents voiced their concerns among a panel of speakers including Greens MP Cate Faehrmann and Marrickville Mayor Fiona Byrne.

Ms Faehrmann said the Greens want a full moratorium on mining activities throughout NSW until an independent investigation is conducted and regulations are tightened.

“It is such a dangerous industry,” she said.

“We need to put a pause on it. We need an investigation into this industry.”

Mayor of Marrickville Fiona Byrne condemned the State Government’s lack of transparency.

“Neither the City of Sydney or Marrickville Council were informed, notified nor consulted about even the application to do the drilling, let alone then actually notified or consulted about the approval,” she said.

Cr Byrne has also moved a motion calling on the State Government to put a moratorium on coal seam gas exploratory drilling and extraction until environmental impacts are understood.

Almost six weeks ago a report revealed the NSW Government had signed an agreement with Macquarie Energy to undergo exploratory drilling on Holland Street, in St Peters.

But Apollo Gas, parent company of Macquarie Energy, said they have no intention to drill yet and plan to consult the community when necessary.

In a letter to Ms Faehrmann on Monday, Lord Mayor Clover Moore expressed her concern about the industry.

“At present, the State Government approves exploration licenses without any notification to land owners or Councils, without any environmental assessment via the Department for Environment and Climate Change and Water, and without any strategic plan that identifies where it is and is not appropriate to mine should exploration uncover resources.”

John Thompson from the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance said the government had failed on the issue.

“We are facing the most invasive, insidious, cancerous industry I’ve ever encounted in my entire life,” he said.

“We’ve got to comb our governments to remember who they’re supposed to serve. They don’t serve the multinational corporations, they don’t serve the oil and gas industry; they serve us, the people. We the people have the obligation to make sure that if we’re going to explore for resources, then we do it the right way, in the right places.”

A protest at Sydney Park is being organised for Saturday 18 December but details are yet to be finalised.

By Sophie Cousins