Council urged to lead CSG protest

SOUTH Gippsland Shire Council has been urged to listen to the community and publicly oppose coal and coal seam gas (CSG) exploration licences and projects in the region.

Council has been told to follow the lead of other councils – including Bass Coast Shire – and declare its unconditional opposition to the controversial mining techniques.

Objectors to the renewal of a coal exploration licence for Mantle Mining in the Mirboo North district have called on council to represent the community’s stance and object to the potential new industries.

They also asked for more information about council’s position on the issue on its website.

Council responded by saying its website carried as much information as possible, but the protestors said the website omitted a reference to coal mining.

Council heard numerous opponents to Mantle Mining’s licence at last Wednesday’s public presentation sessions.

Among them was Fergus O’Connor of Berrys Creek.

“What we need is for the council to take the lead and declare themselves coal and coal seam gas free, as did Mirboo North,” he said.

Roger Davis of Mirboo North said Mantle Mining had a lease over his farm and was concerned about his ability to market livestock, given he must fill in a vendor declaration form stating his stock do not contain chemicals.

He was concerned that if Australian produced food became contaminated with chemicals from CSG, the country would need to import more food that was at greater risk of being contaminated.

“If we are going to have CSG, all the farms will be gone, the land will be ruined, we will have pretty big holes, we won’t have a tourism industry and we won’t have a big population because they will all move out,” Mr Davis said.

Lorraine Halabarec runs Nikolina’s Florist and Gifts in Leongatha and was concerned CSG would negatively impact businesses in Leongatha, as the industry had done in Queensland town of Chincilla.

Mayor Cr Jeanette Harding said council acknowledged the community’s concerns about coal seam gas and coal.

“We have made representation and continue to monitor the process,” she said.

Cr Harding said council continued to support the moratorium on CSG developments in Victoria

“Council will continue to advocate to the State Government for continued community engagement on this issue,” she said.

The mayor said council would participate in the State Government inquiry into unconventional gas in Victoria and a submission from councils would be coordinated by the local government body, the Municipal Association of Victoria.

Council has not passed any motions in relation to coal seam gas since July 25, 2012.

That motion is listed on council’s website and refers to submitting a written objection to the granting of a mining exploration licence under Mantle Mining’s application no. ELA 5428.

That objection was on the grounds that the licence included the Mirboo North township, the risk to town and farm water supplies, the threat to the environment and food security, and lack of consultation by Mantle Mining.

While the website is strong on advocacy, it does not declare council’s opposition to coal and coal seam gas industries in South Gippsland.

Raising concerns: from left, Fergus O’Connor of Berrys Creek and Roger Davis of Mirboo North discuss coal seam gas and coal concerns with South Gippsland Shire Council deputy mayor Cr Nigel Hutchinson-Brooks.

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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Jun 30 2015. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry