THE Manning Alliance, which is leading the local fight to prevent coal seam gas drilling in the Manning Valley, is calling on AGL to cease all drilling activities, whether they be pilot, test wells or other, in Gloucester, pending the decision of the current case before the Land and Environment Court.
Manning Alliance chairman Peter Epov claimed yesterday the decision to approve coal seam gas mining in Gloucester was compromised, and at best, highly questionable. "The approval was carried out by a floundering government in its dying days in power and by a minister who is now under serious investigation for corruption," Mr Epov said.
As well, he claimed MidCoast Water - the major water authority for the region - was deliberately excluded from the original consultation process, as was stated by their representatives at the recent NSW Upper House inquiry into coal seam gas mining, as its sittings in Taree.
"The Australian Senate Committee investigating coal seam gas in the Murray Darling Basin has just brought down an interim report which clearly validates and indeed highlights the concerns of community groups throughout Australia regarding the consequences of coal seam gas. The NSW Government has just extended its moratorium on fracking," Mr Epov said.
Manning River Times
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