Safety zones must be put in place around homes, cities and towns, drinking water supplies and valuable
natural areas such as National Parks to protect our community and environment against the risk of coal
seam gas exploration and extraction, according to the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.
“Prospective Landcom buyers in south‐west Sydney are not the only ones the NSW government has kept in the dark about coal seam gas drilling in their backyard, communities across the state are waking up to
find destructive exploration and extraction activities approved right on their back doorstep,” Chief
Executive Officer Pepe Clarke said today.
“Billions of dollars worth of coal seam gas extraction is planned in and around Sydney alone, with
approval given for gas exploration in the city’s special drinking water catchment, a sensitive area usually
off limits even to walkers.
“Queensland Premier Anna Bligh recently announced mining exploration will not be allowed within 2km
of towns of more than 1000 people, and there’s evidence the broader community would support similar
protective measures here in NSW.
“Recent Galaxy polling shows 70 per cent of Australians agree with a ban on coal seam gas mining in
cities and towns, with the view upheld by residents in city and regional areas alike.
“On the driest continent on earth, the health of our communities relies on the proper protection of our
aquifers and drinking water supplies from contamination and overexploitation. The same Galaxy poll
found nearly three‐quarters of NSW residents (74 per cent) are in favour of a moratorium on coal seam
gas operations until the full health and environmental effects of disrupting water aquifers are known.
“The lack of government oversight of coal seam gas projects has been so great that we’re playing catch
up on bringing mining developments back in line with community expectations on protection of our
communities and the environment.
“We need a moratorium on the most damaging coal seam gas processes to give ourselves breathing
space to develop a statewide mining and gas strategy that can keep our cities, towns and drinking water
supplies safe,” he said.
