Surf Coast Shire Council has praised community advocacy to seek an ongoing ban on the unconventional gas industry in Victoria after parliamentary committee hearings held in Torquay last week.
A number of residents, academics and community groups presented to the inquiry after Council put its submission that the industry posed too great an environmental, social and economic risk to the region.
The findings have been largely reiterated in a recently-released Auditor General’s report, ‘Unconventional Gas: Managing Risks and Impacts’, which found that Victoria is not prepared to respond to potential risks should the current moratorium on the unconventional gas industry be lifted.
Mayor, Cr Margot Smith, said there was no place on the Surf Coast for an unconventional gas industry.
“Council has adopted a strong resolution detailing our opposition to the unconventional gas industry as we share the widely held view in our community that the risks are simply too great.
“Everything we have on the Surf Coast is built on our environment – that includes our agricultural and tourism industries and the many benefits our residents have from living in such a beautiful place.
“The science we do have access to suggests an unconventional gas industry puts all this at risk.
“We also understand that any economic benefits from such an industry would accrue outside the communities in which gas mining or exploration happens which is all the more reason to stand up for our community.”
Cr Smith reiterated calls for the Minister for Energy and Resources not to renew a hydrocarbon exploration permit – which now covers many Surf Coast communities – when it expires later this year.
“Council has passed motions in the chamber asking the Minister not to renew PEP163.
“There is no place for an unconventional gas industry here and we call on the Victorian Government to extend the moratorium into an outright ban.”
Cr Smith said Council supported renewable energy investment and would continue to look at opportunities to promote local renewable energy generation within the local environment.
“Local Government has an important leadership role to play in fostering sustainable renewable energy generation that promotes local jobs and environmental benefits. We look forward to exploring these opportunities with our communities.”
