Coal Seam Gas-Council knocks back opportunity to seek revocation of exploration licence.

Image Courtesy of Planet Gas website.

Shoalhaven Council once again has knocked back the opportunity to have the expired Coal Seam Gas Exploration licence that covers most of the Shoalhaven repealed by the State Government.

This is twice in the same amount of months that Councillors have failed the community and given the Shoalhaven surety against the damage of Coal Seam Gas exploration.

Part of the problem is a bunch of old school Councillors are in the majority at Council and have a ‘develop at any cost mentality’.

Exploration is just as damaging as the process itself, said Greens Clr Amanda Findley. It’s just done on a much smaller scale.

We have a lot to lose here in the Shoalhaven if the Coal Seam Gas industries keep us in their sights. With our high rainfall, good soils, proximity to market our focus should be on reinvigorating our agriculture sector rather than poisoning the land that feeds us.

Agriculture still delivers a lot of wealth to the area from the dairy industry, emerging wine and organic farms we must do what we can to ensure intergenerational access to good farming land.

Clr Ward wanted council to get more information on the Coal Seam Gas issue, but that on its own is simply not enough and I moved further amendments to the motion, seeking community involvement and a clear outline from the State Liberal government if the Shoalhaven’s agricultural land is protected under the strategic land use draft that it delivered earlier this year.

Clr Ward believed that some areas were suited to coal seam gas and wanted to make sure Shoalhaven had the full picture before proceeding to block any advances in the area.

Unfortunately what Clr Ward seems to miss is that the license extends over some of the most productive farm land in the area, other than the small pocket of Monzonite soil in Milton. Clr Ward shouldn’t need someone else to tell him that the Shoalhaven is worth preserving- it’s what the majority of people think already.

The Strategic Land Use document fails the Shoalhaven at this point and the community needs to make sure we have the strongest of protections in place for our highly valued agricultural land. Agricultural land is always under pressure to be used for the latest subdivision plan, but we can’t eat concrete.

See this link for Council minutes from 26 June- The Caol Seam Gas issue is on page 10

http://doc.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/displaydoc.aspx?record=D12/152615

General Purpose Standing Committee Number 5-as reported to Councils Development Committee 5 June- go to page 17 (its page 20 of the pdf) to see the recommendation.
http://doc.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/displaydoc.aspx?record=D12/152615

Check out Leichardt Resources on the Shoalhaven PEL
http://www.leichhardtresources.com.au/56445901_1_Leichhardt%20Resources%20Brochure%202011.pdf