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Council And Community Say 'No' To Coal Seam GasCommunity members at a packed Council Meeting on 21 March applauded a report outlining Council’s commitment to oppose the expansion of coal seam gas in Bass Coast. By Bass Coast - 22nd March 2012 - Back to News Council voted to go ahead with a written objection to an application to explore for coal seam gas in the region.
The application by Leichhardt Resource’s is for a mining exploration licence in Bass Coast along the South Gippsland coast from Wonthaggi to Walkerville and inland to Fish Creek.
Council’s submission will be lodged with the Department of Primary Industries and will address the following issues.
• 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
• The long term social, environmental and economic impacts of coal seam gas extraction are unknown
Council’s Planning and Environment Director, Hannah Duncan-Jones said Council will continue the conversation with the community about coal seam gas.
"We need to understand more about the process and potential ramifications of exploration in the region before we take further steps to advocate against it.
"Together with the community we need to be well informed and have an evidence based approach when planning further actions," said Ms Duncan-Jones.
Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Veronica Dowman said Council is also keen to get a regional perspective on the issue. "We have good relations with our neighbouring councils and we intend to have more discussion with them on how coal seam gas affects us as a region.
"There are also aspects of coal seam gas that have state wide implications, so we will work through our peak body, which is the Municipal Association of Victoria, on those issues", Cr Dowman said.
A report will be prepared for consideration by Council in May 2012 detailing further research undertaken and the proposed next steps for Council.
Any person can submit an objection to the licence application (number EL5416). A submission to the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) must be sent within 21 days of the final licence application advertisement. The application was advertised on 7 March 2012 and will be advertised again. Objections must be in writing and 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
For more information about the licence application go to http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/earth-resources.
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 Council information about Coal Seam Gas.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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