MEDIA RELEASE - 12 July 2013

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham welcomed the Planning Assessment Commission decision to reject an application to drill for coal seam gas in the Sydney water catchment area, but called on the O’Farrell Government to ban it permanently.  

“This PAC decision is a victory for common sense. Sydney’s drinking catchment should be protected from a toxic heavy industry like coal seam gas,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“Coal seam gas is unsafe, unnecessary and unwanted anywhere in NSW, so the idea of drilling and fracking in our special drinking water catchment area was always ludicrous.

“Prior to the last election, Barry O’Farrell promised to end mining and exploration in water catchments - “no ifs, no buts, a guarantee”. The Greens call on the Premier to turn those admirable words into government policy and ban coal seam gas from our water catchments permanently.

“Longwall coal mining in our special catchment areas continues to do significant damage to the environment and water quality, and should be phased out, alongside a ban on coal seam gas. Our drinking water is too precious to risk,” he said.

Contact: Max Phillips 0419 444 916