[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE Win for rural communities as coal seam gas company pulls out of NSW

[Vandeleur, Monique (Sen L. Waters)]

MEDIA RELEASE
Senator Larissa Waters
Senator for Queensland

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

WIN FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES AS COAL SEAM GAS COMPANY PULLS OUT OF NSW

The Australian Greens welcome the news that Planet Gas is withdrawing<http://www.planetgas.com/index.cfm/linkservid/A04F1704-E733-D760-AA3E3078739E086D/showMeta/0/> from coal seam gas activities in New South Wales.

"This is a big win for the communities of the Gunnedah and Sydney basins, who have stood together to lock the gate and protect their water and land from the devastating threats of coal seam gas," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens mining spokesperson, said.

"Coal seam gas companies do not have a social license and today's decision shows that when communities stand together and peacefully protest against coal seam gas they can prevail.

"Planet Gas' massive three exploration areas in the Sydney and Gunnedah basins were the size of an area bigger than metropolitan Sydney.

"The New South Wales Government should now cancel these exploration licenses to prevent another coal seam gas company taking them up and destroying the water and land that underpins communities in these regions.

"Planet Gas has said it will now turn its focus to mining shale gas in South Australia, but it can expect a fight from concerned communities there as well.

"This is exactly why the Greens want to extend federal protection for water from coal seam gas mining to shale and tight gas mining, so that all Australians can have better protection for their precious water resources. I will move that amendment to the legislation tomorrow and seek support from both old parties.

"I will also move an amendment to allow landholders to say no to coal seam gas on their land. Whether it gets any support will be very telling as to where the loyalties of the big old parties really lie", Senator Waters said.

Contact - Monique Vandeleur 0419 626 725