Back to Bentley, as Metgasco spits the dummy at NSW Government

bignumbersbentley

MEDIA RELEASE - 1 September 2015

The Greens NSW mining spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham today slammed coal seam gas company Metgasco for suing the NSW Government and renewing drilling at Bentley near Lismore saying the company was belligerent and did not have a social licence to operate in the Northern Rivers.

“It’s outrageous and belligerent that this company would sue taxpayers for compensation and threaten to resume drilling when their social licence to operate in the Northern Rivers has so comprehensively been rejected,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“If Metgasco go back to Bentley, then the community will be there to meet them in large numbers and with determination to protect the land and water.

“It is not up to taxpayers to bailout this company who have comprehensively failed to gain a social licence to operate and they should not be trying to extort the NSW Government.

Where is the Member for Lismore Thomas George?  He promised to have the licence cancelled by 30 June 2015, yet here we have Metgasco forcing their way back to Bentley with an assurance of police protection given by the government.

“The government and Shooters Party recently voted down a Greens bill that would have banned coal seam gas in the Northern Rivers.  They’ve got no one but themselves to blame for this huge mess,” he said.

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith said, “Should that drill rig come anywhere near our beautiful Northern Rivers rest assured I will be standing on the frontline with the community at Bentley.”

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