Issue 097 of COAST Community News

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December 10, 2014

Your independent local newspaper

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Issue 97

Ph: 4325 7369

Coal and CSG mining forum packed out our hundred Central Coast residents packed out the Central Coast Grammar School hall on Thursday, November 27, to discuss the risks posed by coal seam gas and coal mining to drinking water, local industries, nature and human health.

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The forum was organised by Our Central Coast, the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Community Environment Network and the Our Land, Our Water, Our Future alliance. Australian actor Michael Caton, Father Rod Bower and local mum Alexia Martinez were among the speakers. Danielle Coleman from Our Central Coast, a non-partisan alliance of individuals and community groups, said the Central Coast was at the frontline of coal seam gas (CSG) and coal mining issues. “The Coalition Government has broken its election commitment to rule out the controversial

Wallarah 2 coal mine near Wyong,” said Ms Coleman. “Much of the Mountains District and drinking water catchment for the Central Coast is overlaid by a coal seam gas exploration license. “It’s time the community’s concerns were heard and their drinking water and livelihoods were protected. “Many people would be shocked to know there is a coal seam gas exploration license over the Central Coast’s water catchment. “The forum was an important milestone for our community which is now armed with the reality of the community impacts of coal and coal seam gas. “The response was

Community members showing their support in protecting the Central Coast from CSG

incredible. “Every hand was in the air when we asked who wanted to protect our Central Coast water and environment from

coal and coal seam gas. “The current system is clearly broken if it can’t protect the essentials of life, like clean water.

“The Central Coast has been let-down by our political leaders and it’s time for the community to find out the truth and demand

our Central Coast remain coal and gas free,” said Ms Coleman. Media release, 1 Dec 2014 Amy Gordon, Essential Media Communications

There are no CSG approvals on the Central Coast – Holstein ember for Gosford Mr Chris Holstein has confirmed that there is no approval for any company to produce coal seam gas (CSG) anywhere on the Central Coast.

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“We have been actively listening to the community and their concerns and as a result, the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government has implemented the most comprehensive regulatory framework around CSG in the entire country, through the NSW Gas Plan,” he said. Mr Holstein said we are now in a different era from the

one prior to 2011, when the former Labor Government handed out petroleum exploration licences with no consideration for our water, agricultural land, the environment or communities. Any applications for a license renewal will now be subject to the stringent NSW Government minimum standards.

“The NSW Government makes no apologies for this and will continue to apply the letter of the law to each application on an individual basis,” Mr Holstein said. “This government has already introduced 30 regulatory controls for CSG and we’ve added 30 more as part of our Gas Plan, making it the most comprehensive in

Australia to protect our vital land and water resources,” said Mr Holstein. The Gas Plan outlines the government’s new Strategic Release Framework that will ensure new exploration licenses are only issued after an assessment of economic, environmental and social factors. Community consultation is a key element of the approvals process and will be conducted up-front. If a proposed area doesn’t

meet the criteria it won’t be released. Mr Holstein said the new NSW Gas Plan adopts all of the recommendations of the Chief Scientist and Engineer, Professor Mary O’Kane in her Final Report of the Independent Review of Coal Seam Gas Activities in NSW. “The Gas Plan is the line in the sand for the CSG industry and it will only be companies that have the industry expertise and sufficient resources that

will even be considered as candidates for a license,” Mr Holstein said. “There are no CSG approvals on the Central Coast and I will continue to advocate for the Gas Plan and its regulatory frameworks that will apply to any prospective operators in the region and NSW.” Media release, 1 Dec 2014 Chris Holstein, Member for Gosford


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