The City of Sydney has told a NSW Government Inquiry that coal
seam gas exploration licences should be put on hold until their environmental
impacts have been assessed and the community fully consulted.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said that while gas is an important
transition fuel for a lowcarbon future, the Inquiry must consider whether NSW
needs to develop its coal seam gas reserves, given Australia's significant
liquid natural gas reserves.
"Gas can help us transition to a greener future but that can't
happen unless environmental safeguards are in place. Gas is not greener if we
destroy our farmlands to get there," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
"There is already some coal seam gas in the state's gas supplies
and the Government urgently needs to make sure the projected growth of the use
of gas does not come at the expense of our communities or environment."
The City of Sydney's submission to the NSW parliamentary inquiry
into the coal seam gas industry welcomed a moratorium on the use of 'fraccing'
and BTEX chemicals(benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes), but said more
was needed and called for transparent planning, approvals and regulatory
processes.
sydneymedia.com.au
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