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May 31, 2023

Make north coast a CSG exclusion zone

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If you want to see the northern rivers region declared a CSG exclusion zone then please take the time to write a submission to the NSW Draft North Coast Plan. Submissions close on the 2nd June and should be emailed to [email protected].

Despite public assurances it appears that both the state and federal governments are still promoting the ‘potential’ for CSG mining in the northern rivers. Until our region is declared an exclusion zone this issue will continue to bubble away like the Condamine River in SE Queensland (due to CSG drilling in the area)

Not only is CSG being promoted in the Draft North Coast Plan (state government document) but it has also been revealed that a NSW Government promotional CD was handed out to thousands of mining company executives promoting CSG opportunities on the north coast at a recent mining conference.

Now who is running the show, the politicians we elect, the bureaucrats or the multi national mining companies? Clearly it appears that the people are being told one thing, and the corporate donors another.

It’s time to let the NSW Government know once and for all that the northern rivers should be an exclusion zone and this needs to be articulated (and promoted) in the final version of the North Coast Plan.

Ballina councillor Jeff Johnson, Lennox Head

 


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5 COMMENTS

    • Len, I happy for you guys to ban natural gas – CSG. I just cannot understand how you reconcile buying natural gas and its derived products.. If you believe in what you say then ban it!
      Would you support importing shark-fin soup. NO you would not.

  1. I hear that the Northern Rivers want to ban Gas Exploration, CSG & Conventional. Remember the last well Metgasco endeavoured to drill was a Conventional well. YET the northern rivers import natural gas and its derived products – increasing year by year. A stroll around Byron Bay town’s centre I observed over 18 Natural Gas storage facilities. Yes folks they are cooking your food with propane – portion of which is from fracked wells.

    I take the view that people or communities that ban natural gas exploration should also ban its usage and derived products. We ban ivory, rhino-horn products and shark-fin soup for very good reasons. Also, the idea of exporting your own environmental responsibility to someone else or another state or country is morally reprehensible. We in Queensland take a lot of abuse from NSW Domgas users and Unions.

    So, have some integrity and include banning the sale of natural gas and derived products such as fertiliser from the northern rivers.

    • That would be a dream come true for most land protectors, who only want to see the dirty, fossil gas industry gone. Cooking could easily be done using the modern electric conduction method, which uses less energy than any other system. But the reality, Don, is that NSW is dragging its feet on renewables – we are the worst in the country based on figures released today, with only 6% renewables. Meanwhile gas is being plugged by its publicists as a ‘transition’ fuel.

      • When I read these postings I am impressed with the enthusiasm for renewable energy. I would prefer this enthusiasm to be constructive rather than focus on how other people, companies or governments should change. If you are waiting for Government to change, well, give up now! Become a “doer”, that is design + business plan + raise money + implementation.
        Before you cry hypocrite. I studied BE [Elect] UNSW, studied solar, did not believe it can play a major role [2nd Law of Thermodynamics]. Happy to be proven wrong!!!! I believe Natural Gas should play a major role in reducing emissions. So, I have designed, raised money and implemented projects. Lately I endeavoured to raise funds for a Gas Project but due to the lack of enthusiasm from investors the project failed to progress [A cheer I hear from you guys]. That’s Life, but I tried. So when I see the enthusiasm in the Northern NSW for renewables, I am jealous – You guys should get out there & design, create a business plan and have no problems raising funds. Become a DOER and Please Prove me wrong.

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