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Council Objects To Mining Licence Application

Objectors have 21 days to lodge a submission against Leichhardt Resource’s application for a mining exploration licence in Bass Coast and South Gippsland.

By Bass Coast - 16th March 2012 - Back to News

The application for a mining exploration licence is the first step in a long process that members of the Bass Coast community are concerned could lead to Coal Seam Gas Exploration in the region.

Bass Coast Shire Council’s Planning and Environment Director, Hannah Duncan-Jones, said this licence application, (number EL5416) covers 566 square kilometres of land and proposes exploration of Coal Bed Methane – otherwise known as Coal Seam Gas - and Coal (Brown or Black).

"Council and the community were briefed on the application at the Public Briefing Session on 7 March 2012 and a number of concerns with the application were raised.

"At the Council meeting on 21 March, we will present a report outlining Council’s submission to the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), objecting to the granting of the licence," said Ms Duncan-Jones.

The report prepared for Council consideration details the basis of Council’s submission:
• Protection and enhancement of agricultural land;
• Protection and enhancement of our natural environment;
• The preservation of the quality of our ground and surface water systems;
• Supporting the growth of our tourism sector;
• Protecting the amenity of our community;
• Protecting the health and safety of our community; and
• The long term social, environmental and economic impacts of coal seam gas extraction are unknown.

Ms Duncan-Jones explained that Council’s submission to the DPI will be prepared after the March Council meeting, based on the response to the report.

The submission must be sent with 21 days of the final advertisement for the licence application.

"There were notices in two newspapers on 14 March, so we have to prepare our submission to meet a closing date of 4 April.

"The report will then be formally endorsed at the next Council meeting on 18 April," explained Ms Duncan-Jones.

"We have been advised that there may be another round of advertising, which would add another week to the closing date. We will certainly keep the community informed if that is the case.

"You can follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/basscoast) or check the feature story on the homepage of our website (www.basscoast.vic.gov.au), for the latest information on the submission dates."

Any person can make an objection to the licence application. It must be in writing, include the grounds on which it is made (relevant to legislative provisions), and be sent to:
The Manager
Earth Resources Tenements
Department of Primary Industries
GPO Box 4440
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
The submission must be sent within 21 days of the final licence application advertisement. For more information about the licence application go to http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/earth-resources.


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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