Electricity in the air: City of Sydney moves towards banning gas

By LAUREN FROST

The electrification of homes and businesses in the City of Sydney is under way with the City of Sydney Council carrying a motion exploring the enforcement of renewable energy alternatives for new developments at a Monday meeting.

The motion, put forward by Councillor Waskam Esmelda Davis and seconded by Deputy Mayor Sylvie Ellsmore, called on Lord Mayor Clover Moore to write to NSW Premier Chris Minns, urging him to introduce rebates or other incentives to transition homes and businesses from gas to renewable energy.

All Councillors – bar the two Liberal councillors, Councillor Gannon and Councillor Jarrett – voted in support of the motion.

From October 1 this year, the City’s Net Zero Performance controls will come into effect, requiring that new office, hotel and retail developments “reduce energy use through efficiency and renewable energy” or achieve net zero energy “prior to commencing use”, as noted by the council minutes.

Although this will contribute to the targets set by the City of Sydney and the NSW government to reach net zero emissions by 2035 and 2050 respectively, these standards will not apply to new residential developments.

This is because the current and upcoming State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) prevents councils from setting higher environmental requirements than that of state planning policy.

The City of Sydney Council has now indicated that this is nowhere near good enough.

The Lord Mayor told City Hub, “we need to do everything we can, urgently, to lower our emissions.”

“I have advocated for and would welcome a state-wide mandate on banning gas connections by the NSW Government, as has been done in Victoria,” she said.

“Until that happens, we’re looking at other ways we can electrify residential homes and reduce new gas connections within the City of Sydney.”

Deputy Mayor Ellsmore, a Greens councillor, is similarly dissatisfied with the current state policy.

“The NSW State Labor Government has ruled out a state-wide gas ban,” she told City Hub, “but that doesn’t stop local Councils stepping up and showing leadership.”

The City of Sydney now join other councils including Waverley, Parramatta, Randwick and Canterbury-Bankstown which have already implemented varying gas bans for new residential developments.

Pumping the breaks on gas

The motion also requested that the City of Sydney CEO investigate the potential means and challenges of requiring new residential developments and developments outside of the current Net Zero planning controls to be all electric.

“I am hopeful that the investigation is fruitful and comes back with constructive ways we can continue our transition away from fossil fuels,” the Lord Mayor said.

Deputy Mayor Ellsmore was quick to point out the many benefits this change would have on City of Sydney residents.

“As well as the environmental impact, gas is highly toxic for human health, including when used inside for cooking,” she said.

“The gas industry has been exposed for decades for green-washing, for marketing gas as a healthy option when in fact it has been linked to increases in cancer and childhood asthma.”

In fact, 12 percent of childhood asthma in Australia has been associated with gas cooktops, according to a 2018 study in the Medical Journal of Australia. Additionally, gas stoves and ovens have been linked to carcinogenic chemicals like benzene by Stanford University researchers.

Dr Ben Ewald, an epidemiology expert and member of health advocacy organisation Doctors for the Environment, said, “the flames of a gas stove or heater release toxic chemicals that cause asthma in susceptible people. Everyone with a gas stove should open a window or turn on an extractor fan every time they light it. Not connecting to gas in the first place is a better option, as all uses of indoor gas now have a better electric alternative.”

Deputy Mayor Ellsmore also highlighted the rising cost of gas.

“Estimates are that gas now costs households a whopping extra $900 per year – by 2030 this will be more than $2000,” she said.

Amidst the current cost of living crisis and climate emergency, the step towards electrifying Sydney appears an important one.

On that note, Deputy Mayor Ellsmore emphasised, “the community will have a chance to have a say about the final details, when updated planning controls are put on public exhibition as soon as possible.”

Widespread approval for gas ban

Health professionals and climate change organisations have welcomed the announcement.

The motion was a response to a grassroots ‘Electrify Your Council’ campaign by climate organisation 350 Australia.

Lucy Manne, CEO at 350 Australia said, “gas is a potent, fossil fuel that is accelerating the intersecting human and ecological crises caused by a heating planet.

“Only developers and gas corporations benefit from keeping our homes and businesses connected to gas.”

Bronwyn McDonald, NSW Campaigner for Healthy Futures, an alliance of health organisations said, “a child living with a gas stove faces a similar asthma risk to a child exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke.”

“To protect vulnerable people like children, the elderly and people with medical conditions, health professionals call on the state government to urgently phase out gas from buildings like homes, schools and hospitals.”