On Wednesday 21 August community groups from across Sydney will deliver to Premier Barry O’Farrell a petition with more than 10,000 names of people opposed to coal seam gas (CSG) mining in Sydney drinking water catchments.
“Last year Premier O’Farrell approved a CSG mining company to drill a well on the edge of the water catchments. This petition of more than ten thousand names from people across the Sydney basin is sending a clear message to make water catchments CSG Free,” said Isabel McIntosh, Sydney Regional Coordinator for Lock the Gate.
“Wollondilly liberal state MP Jai Rowell has signed the petition and so has Labor MP from the South Coast Ryan Park. They’re representing their community concern and it is time for Premier O'Farrell to follow suit.
“Subsidence from long wall mining in the catchments is already cracking streams, destroying swamps and contaminating wetland. How much damage will be done before the government says enough is enough?
“Sydney Drinking Water Catchments provide water to more than four million people and protecting this irreplaceable resource should be a government priority.
“Our water catchments are high conservation areas and trespassers can be fined $44,000 for entering these prohibited zones. If they’re no go zones for bush walkers they should be no go zones for mining.
“Recently the Planning Assessment Commission rejected plans by Apex Energy for CSG drilling in the catchment, but we need a long-term commitment from Premier Barry O'Farrell and for him to deliver on his pre-election promises to protect catchments from mining" she said.
The number of anti-CSG campaign groups across the Sydney Basin continues to increase with groups in Penrith, Ingleburn, the Northern Beaches, Blacktown, Macarthur and other Greater Western Suburbs, including the Blue Mountains joining Stop CSG Sydney and Stop CSG Illawarra to raise awareness about CSG and its threat to Sydney Drinking Water Catchments.
This rally is part of a national week of action against reckless coal and CSG expansion.
Stop CSG in Water Catchments rally Wed 21 August 12 noon Hyde Park with short march to parliament (at parliament 12.30pm)