This week the Northern Beaches Council voted to oppose the proposal by MEC Resources to explore for gas off the coast of NSW and called on the Berejiklian Government to take a stand against the project by prohibiting any related transport and infrastructure on NSW land.
The joint motion, put forward by Greens Councillor Natalie Warren and Independent Councillor Alex McTaggart, comes as communities from Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle prepare to voice their opposition to further 3D seismic testing to be carried out off the NSW coast early this year.
Northern Beaches Councillor, Natalie Warren, said “The Northern Beaches Council has made a strong decision to represent community concern and protect our marine life and commercial fishing and tourism industries from the impacts of seismic testing and offshore gas.
“The Northern Beaches Council will liaise with Newcastle, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie and Central Coast Councils and relevant community environmental groups to oppose this project.
Justin Field MLC, NSW Greens Marine and Fisheries Spokesperson said, “The NSW Minister for Resources, Energy and Utilities, Don Harwin, has previously raised concerns with his federal counterpart, Minister for Resources, Matt Canavan, regarding the regulatory oversight and environmental risks of this project. It is time this concern translated into action and the NSW Government take the necessary steps to block this project.
“When the new Parliament returns, I will be introducing legislation to prohibit the processing and transport of gas from wells off the NSW coast and prohibit the construction of infrastructure related to this project. This will effectively make the project to drill for gas off the coast of NSW economically untenable.
"The community won't accept a gas field off the coast of Sydney, Newcastle and the Central Coast. I hope the Coalition and Labor Parties will back the community campaign to oppose this project and to reject offshore gas in NSW. The climate and our ocean cannot sustain new fossil fuel development.
