SCIENCE, and not mining royalties, will determine the future of coal seam gas and open cut coal mining in the Gloucester Basin after the federal government yesterday identified the valley as a priority region for scientific study.
Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott says the grassroots community campaign which urged the government to include Gloucester on the bioregional priority list has been won.
Yesterday’s announcement, he said, comes at a crucial time as Gloucester Resources Limited applies to operate an open cut mine just a few kilometres from town. “This has been an intense campaign over a substantial period of time to get the Commonwealth involved in what essentially has been a NSW Government planning matter,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“The community had lost faith in the NSW approvals process so the best way to restore that faith was to seek independent, scientific advice on the potential risks to our water supply.
“Having secured a national agreement, and the creation of an expert scientific committee on CSG, the next step was to get priority status for Gloucester so that the community’s questions about possible ground and surface water contamination can be thoroughly investigated.”
Manning River Times
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