Pending an investigation by New South Wales Chief Scientist Mary O’Kane Coal Seam Gas (CSG) exploration and mining in the Sydney drinking water catchment areas have been placed on ”immediate hold”.
The Resources Minister in NSW conservative Liberal-National government, Chris Hartcher, said the decision was a response to community concern that CSG activity in catchment had affected the quality of water supplies for Sydney and the Illawarra.
”The NSW government supports the principle of restricting activities in the special areas until there is greater understanding of potential impacts of exploration and extraction of natural gas from coal seams,” he said according to newspaper reports.
Previously, Mr Hartcher had branded state Opposition Leader John Robertson an ”absolute hypocrite” for proposing a bill banning CSG activity in the catchment areas earlier this month.
Mr Hartcher pointed out the former Labor government had approved CSG in the special areas.
Media reports say the Sydney Catchment Authority has opposed CSG mining in the areas because it ”may significantly compromise” the water supply.
Mr Hartcher said there were no existing approvals for CSG drilling in the catchment areas.
The group Stop CSG Illawarra welcomed the move but called on Premier Barry O’Farrell to keep his election promise to ban all mining in water catchment areas.
Australian Greens Party MP Jeremy Buckingham said the ban should be permanent and extended to catchment areas throughout NSW.
NSW has banned CSG activity within two kilometres of residential areas and in horse-breeding and wine-growing areas.
The eastern Australian head of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, Paul Fennelly, accused the NSW government of ”policy on the run”.
”The NSW government’s continued disregard for science-based regulation sends a terrible message to potential investors and risks higher-than-necessary energy costs and lost jobs,” he said.
