Friday, June 22

Marrickville council backs away from allowing a poll on coal seam gas

Labor and independent councillors in Marrickville decided on June 19 against holding a poll on coal seam gas at the same time as the local council elections.

This is despite the fact that the council has had two unanimous votes against coal seam gas exploration.

Non-binding polls are available to all councils and have been used to gauge community opinion on a variety of topics.

Greens councillor Cathy Peters put the urgency motion, inspired by Lismore City Council’s decision to poll its local residents about coal seam gas production and exploration.

Lismore has been at the centre of many rallies and protests against coal seam gas, but the council wanted a more scientific measure of community opinion.

Marrickville council's general manager said there were enough budget funds to call on the NSW Electoral Commission to conduct the poll.

Peters' motion was moved as an urgency motion because the general manager said council needed time to prepare the “yes” and the “no” case to the question: “Do you support coal seam gas (CSG) exploration and production in the Marrickville Local Government area?”
Three activists from Stop CSG Sydney spoke in favour of the motion.

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Green Left Weekly

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