St Peters residents have celebrated a victory as Dart Energy announced its decision not to drill for Coal Seam Gas.
But community groups are cynical about what it actually means.
President of Stop CSG Sydney, Jacinta Green, said she finds the announcement confusing as Dart Energy implied St Peters had been off the table for some time but she doubts the accuracy in this statement.
“It’s a huge surprise to us, we have found no documentation or statements to support the view,” she said.
“We’re incredibly cynical about what it actually means.”
The decision comes after Marrickville Council road blocked Dart Energy, by approving the Dial-A-Dump DA, which was the proposed site, subject to no Coal Seam Gas drilling.
Marrickville Greens Councillor, Max Phillips, said the Greens are very pleased that Dart Energy has seen sense, and recognised the community concern about Coal Seam Gas.
The announcement made doesn’t withdraw the licence to drill in St Peters, only confirms that Dart Energy isn’t going to do it.
“There’s nothing to stop them selling the licence to another company to drill in St Peters,” Ms Green said.
Mr Phillips said: “Any company that wants to take on the RES would have rocks in their head. It would be a political and public relations disaster.”
Stop CSG Sydney is currently in the process of writing to Dart Energy to call for further action.
“If they’re serious, to actually formally withdraw the approval to drill in St Peters,” Ms Green said.
The activist group is also writing to the state government to request the licence be officially revoked to drill in St Peters for all companies.
Ms Green said Dial-A-Dump was contacted on Wednesday, and they confirmed even more surprisingly they didn’t have an access agreement with Dart Energy.
“How can the State Government sign off on an exploration permit and approval to drill if there’s no landholder access agreement?” she said.
Ms Green has not been satisfied with the management and lack of transparency from the state government on the issue.
“We have valid legitimate concerns and questions that someone should be answering, the state government has failed to do that.”
Although St Peters has been ruled out, there’s community concern Alexandria may be on the agenda for Dart Energy.
Ms Green said there’s nothing stopping them from shifting the drill five metres sideways into Alexandria.
According to the Dart Energy Quarterly update in April, several industrial areas have been identified in Sydney as suitable for Coal Seam Gas drilling.
Mr Phillips said the Greens are calling for the NSW Government to cancel the exploration licence for the Sydney area.
“They should recognise that Coal Seam Gas and residential areas don’t mix.”
Ms Green questions why Dart Energy can’t announce where they’re planning to drill.
“What they should have learned from St Peters is it isn’t just about the landholder. It’s about the community as well.
“Ruling out one suburb at a time is ridiculous,”
Ms Green said.
