Friends of the Earth media release.

Bass Coast Council shows leadership while state government hides from coal and gas problem

This evening the Bass Coast Shire Council passed a resolution that commits Council to advocating against the expansion of coal seam gas exploration in Bass Coast.

“There is growing community concern across the state about new coal, coal seam gas and other gas exploration” said Friends of the Earth campaigns co-ordinator Cam Walker. “Just this week 100 people gathered in West Gippsland to oppose plans to explore for Coal Seam Gas”.

“Yet the state government continues to pretend that there is no problem with the growth of this industry.”

“Bass Coast Shire is to be congratulated for showing leadership on this issue and working to protect their community from the disruption and damage that comes with this industry.”

Council has resolved to ask the Minister to exercise his discretion under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 to exempt land within the shire from the granting of both coal and unconventional gas exploration or mining licences.

“Friends of the Earth believes that, given the scale of the threat posed by this industry to our best farming land, the best outcome would be for the government to intervene and declare a moratorium on any new coal and gas exploration within the state until a thorough assessment has been made of the likely impacts of this industry”.

Details on the resolution can be found here:
http://www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/getmedia/1e380a4f-4413-4e18-bd4a-9078c7e...

Further comment: Cam Walker 0419 338 047

Key quotes from the motion:

Bass Coast Shire Council is totally opposed to new mining of coal, and to gas extraction associated with coal (unconventional gas), within the shire.

In expressing this opposition it is endorsing the already widely expressed views of our community.