Stop CSG Illawarra released the statement below on September 12.
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Along with yesterday’s release of the NSW Strategic Regional Land Use Policy, came the offer to renew 22 coal seam gas (CSG) exploration licences in NSW, including four in the Illawarra. These licences cover more than five million hectares in NSW. A new CSG production licence was also granted in Casino, and the freeze on fracking was lifted.
Stop CSG Illawarra spokesperson, Jess Moore commented: “The state government has given the green light to CSG in NSW. All exploration licences in the Illawarra have been renewed, including one in the drinking water catchment.
“Communities have made it clear that science must come before development, and that land and water must be protected. Instead, fracking's back on and exploration across five million hectares in NSW has been renewed.
“No part of NSW — not the land where food is grown, not our water catchments — is off limits to CSG development.
“O’Farrell promised to ban exploration and mining in the drinking water catchment. This was — quite clearly — a lie.
”Dressed up in words like ‘protection’ these changes are nothing short of betrayal. They put land, water and communities at risk.
“CSG mining involves land clearing, gas leaks, contaminated water and industrial development.
“The offer to renew PEL 444 makes it clear that the government thinks CSG profits are more important than safe drinking water.
“We need a science-first approach to CSG, that puts facts before development. Catchments should be protected and fracking should be ruled out.
“Water is more important than gas.”