Coal Seam Gas: National Party MPs George, Gulaptis and Page receive a letter and an invitation to which none replied

 

 

On 13 February 2013 The Northern Star reported:

 

THREE Northern Rivers State Nationals MPs have ignored an invitation from the Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin to take a united stand against coal seam gas in the region.

APN Newsdesk has seen the letter Ms Saffin wrote to Don Page (Ballina), Thomas George (Lismore) and Chris Gulaptis (Clarence) on January 25, in which she called on each of them to lobby for a statewide ban on CSG until more was known about the industry.....

 

Here is a copy of that letter:

 

                                   

Friday, January 25, 2013.

 

REF: PE.25.01.13.

 

The Honourable Don Page MP

NSW Minister for Local Government

NSW Minister for the North Coast

State Member for Ballina

 

The Honourable Thomas George MP

State Member for Lismore

 

The Honourable Chris Gulaptis MP

State Member for Clarence

 

Dear Don, Thomas and Chris,

 

I formally write to you all as a courtesy to update you on my advocacy on the watershed issue of Coal Seam Gas mining, done on behalf of thousands of my constituents in local communities in the Richmond and Clarence valleys.

 

Northern Rivers residents have made it abundantly clear that they are opposed to this unproven industry going forward because of the potential risks to our water and air, public health and productivity of our prime agricultural land.

 

While I realise that this is a difficult issue for you as State Government MPs, I respectfully call on you to influence Premier Barry O’Farrell and Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner to bring a halt to CSG activity until bioregional assessments are completed.

 

As long term residents of our region, I believe you appreciate that CSG protests at Ellangowan, Glenugie and Doubtful Creek, and Local Government Area-endorsed moratoriums, represent the widely held view in our electorates.

 

Not since the major demonstrations against a proposed rare earth plant at Tuncester, near Lismore, in the 1980s have the people of the Northern Rivers spoken so powerfully and in such a unified fashion against a threat to the natural environment and their way of life.

 

I’ve done a lot of research on Coal Seam Gas, and like a lot of people, when Metgasco came on the scene in Casino several years ago, I thought ‘great, natural gas’. However, I had to find out myself that it wasn’t great at all and this is why I started looking very carefully at what exploration drilling and gas wells do to our precious aquifers and groundwater.

 

I draw your attention to the attached National Water Commission’s position statement on Coal Seam Gas, which is current.

 

I lobbied Federal Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, The Honourable Tony Burke, to ensure that the Clarence-Morton Basin was a priority region for bioregional assessments to identify local water resources and any impacts from CSG and large coal mining.

 

Mr Burke’s Department has confirmed that the Grafton-based Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority has received $400,000 in Australian Government funding to conduct data gathering as part of the early stages of our bio-regional assessment.

 

These assessments are, of course, being done as part of the National Partnership Agreement with the States through COAG, under the purview of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee (IESC), relevant to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill 2013.

 

And I am aware that the Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils (NOROC) is looking at directing significant funds to Southern Cross University’s research arm to conduct baseline studies of water and air quality over the next three years or so.

 

These baseline studies should really be funded by the NSW Government, either directly or through a special levy raised from gas companies.

 

I also support Lock The Gate spokesman Michael McNamara’s latest call for the Northern NSW Local Health Network to take an active role in public health assessments of the chemicals used in CSG mining.

 

I attach my recent letters to NNSW LHN Chief Executive Chris Crawford and to Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, The Honourable Catherine King MP, together with my major statements on CSG, for your information.

 

Don, Thomas and Chris, all of this should be enough to convince the NSW Government to pause and take stock of these genuine community concerns. It is within your power to adopt the precautionary principle and agitate for a State-wide moratorium.

 

I am happy to meet with you all to discuss a joint approach to CSG on behalf of the people of Page. There is too much at risk to do otherwise.

 

Kind regards,

 

Janelle Saffin MP

Federal Member for Page. 

Metgasco's worries increase about its future in an increasingly hostile environment

 

It is not only Sydney’s outer west, the Mid-North Coast, Northern Rivers communities, local government, the Federal Environment Minister, some state and federal sitting MPs and certain candidates at the 2013 federal election which are lining up in opposition to the coal seam gas industry and mining companies such as Metgasco Limited – now the O’Farrell Government is beginning to feel the political and social backlash flowing from its unwise decision to force this socially disruptive, water-hungry and potentially environmentally destructive industry on the people of New South Wales and has announced a review all coal seam gas activity in NSW.

Metgasco has been quick to react as its commercial worries mount.

 

It is noted that Metgasco's External Relations Manager Richard Shields was Deputy State Director and Director of Party Affairs at the Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division) until August 2011.

 

The O'Farrell Government and Minister Hartcher in particular would do well to remember that any sense that meetings with Metgasco are conducted under old mates network rules should be avoided at all costs. 

 

 

NSW New regulations and administration

 

19 February 2013

 

The NSW Government has announced a range of new CSG policies and administrative processes. The details of these changes are not yet clear but they could have a significant impact on Metgasco’s Northern Rivers CSG operations. Metgasco understands that there will be a one month consultation process before the changes are finalised.

 

Metgasco has requested an urgent meeting with the NSW Government to better understand the changes and express our concern about the potential impact on Metgasco and NSW’s natural gas supply and business environment, including its manufacturing industry.

 

About Metgasco

The Natural Gas Company - Metgasco Limited

Our business is about finding, producing, marketing and delivering gas from natural gas reserves.  We are a natural gas company that is focused on developing the coal seam gas and conventionally trapped gas resources of the New South Wales Clarence Moreton basin. 

 

We have established a large natural gas reserve base and are in the process of converting our gas reserves into gas supplies delivered to customers.  Metgasco has grown its reserve base at a very low cost relative to other companies.  Our finding cost per gigajoule of 2P reserves is amongst the lowest in Australia.  This provides the basis for shareholder value creation in the future.

 

Richard Shields

Metgasco Limited

 

Mobile: 0418 418 877

SAVE OUR NATIONAL PARKS: Are NSW North Coast National Party MPs set to betray their electorates?

North East Forest Alliance

NORTHERN RIVERS MEMBERS REFUSE TO RULE OUT LOGGING NATIONAL PARKS

MEDIA RELEASE 11/2/2013

Conservation groups have established a Save Your National Parks website to provide information on north east NSW parks proposed for logging: http://saveparks.com.au/

The North East Forest Alliance is disappointed that the elected members for the Northern Rivers refused requests to express their support for retaining national parks in response to proposals to open them up for logging.

NEFA spokesperson, Dailan Pugh, said that having already voted to allow recreational shooters into most of our national parks it seems the Northern Rivers’ State elected representatives are going to stand aside again and allow them to be given to the loggers.

“The Forest Products Association are asking for over a million hectares of north-east NSW’s National Parks, Nature Reserves and State Conservation Areas to be made available for logging. So far they have identified over 100,000 hectares of 43 specific reserves they want revoked.

“In the Northern Rivers the loggers have so far singled out 12 reserves they want to be wholly or partially revoked for logging: Wollumbin, Mebbin, Nightcap, Goonengerry, Guy Fawkes River, Chaelundi, and Nymboi-Binderay National Parks, and Wollumbin, Whian Whian , Bungawalbin, Butterleaf, and Chaelundi State Conservation Areas.

“The O’Farrell Government is currently assessing the timber resources in these reserves with a view to opening them up for logging.

“These reserves encompass core habitat for an array of threatened plants and animals, rare ecosystems, rainforests of world heritage value, exceptional oldgrowth forests, and part of a wilderness. The loggers are also seeking the removal of protections for numerous stands of oldgrowth on state forests throughout the region.

“In mid December NEFA wrote to the four local members for the Northern Rivers, asking them if they support logging within, or revocation for logging of, any National Parks, Nature Reserves or State Conservation Areas on the far North Coast of NSW.

“NEFA told them that we intended to publicise their responses to their electors on the grounds that they have a right to know the position of their elected representatives.

“None of the four State members for the Northern Rivers indicated that they would oppose logging of national parks. Don Page replied that he had forwarded our request for his opinion to the Minister for the Environment Robyn Parker. This is the same Environment Minister who repeatedly refused to rule out allowing logging in national parks during a budget estimates hearing. She has not replied.

“Thomas George responded that until the Government considers an inter-departmental committee review into the timber supply situation on the north coast he is ‘not in a position to speculate on what those options might be or even speculate on what subsequent decisions might be made’.

“Christopher Gulaptis and Geoff Provest did not respond.

“We need local members who are prepared to stand up for the north coast and not stand aside while our national parks are given to the shooters and loggers. The electors of the Northern Rivers must assume that the Government members for Lismore, Clarence, Tweed and Ballina have no intention to stand up for the local national parks that this community had to struggle for decades to protect.

“If the Northern Rivers community wants to keep its national parks they are first going to have to convince their elected representatives that their jobs depend on not supporting proposals to log them” Mr. Pugh said.

Reserves explicitly identified by Forests Products Association for revocation:

Black Bulga State Conservation Area, Bongil Bongil National Park (part), Bungawalbin State Conservation Area (part), Butterleaf State Conservation Area, Chaelundi National Park (part), Chaelundi State Conservation Area (part), Columbey National Park, Copeland Tops State Conservation Area, Dorrigo National Park (part), Ghin-Doo-Ee National Park (part), Gir-um-bit National Park, Gir-um-bit State Conservation Area, Goonengerry National Park, Gumbaynggirr State Conservation Area, Guy Fawkes River National Park (part), Hunter Estuary National Park, Jilliby State Conservation Area, Karuah National Park, Karuah Nature Reserve (part), Lake Innes State Conservation Area, Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area (part), Mebbin National Park (part), Medowie Nature Reserve, Medowie State Conservation Area (part), Myall Lakes National Park (part), Nightcap National Park (part), Nowendoc National Park (part), Nymboi-Binderay National Park (part), Sugarloaf State Conservation Area, Queens Lake Nature Reserve (part), Queens Lake State Conservation Area, Sherwood Nature Reserve (part), Sugarloaf State Conservation Area, Tilligerry National Park, Tilligerry Nature Reserve (part), Tilligerry State Conservation Area, Tomaree National Park (part), Tuggalo Creek Nature Reserve, Watagans National Park, Werakata State Conservation Area, Whian Whian State Conservation Area, Wollumbin National Park, Wollumbin State Conservation Area.

Should any Northern Rivers voter wish to express an objection to this proposal then their MP may be contacted at the following:

The Hon. Thomas George, MP
55 Carrington Street
LISMORE NSW 2480

Postal
The Hon. Thomas George, MP
PO Box 52
Lismore NSW 2480
P (02) 6621 3624
F (02) 6622 1403
E lismore@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Mr Christopher Gulaptis, MP
11 Prince Street
GRAFTON NSW 2460 
P(02) 6642 7574 
F(02) 6642 7574
E clarence@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Mr Geoff Provest, MP
103 Minjungbal Drive
TWEED HEADS SOUTH NSW 2486 
P (07) 5523 4816 
F (07) 5523 4817
E tweed@parliament.nsw.gov.au

The Hon. Donald Page, MP
Shop 1
7 Moon Street
BALLINA NSW 2478
Postal
The Hon. Donald Page, MP
PO Box 1018
BALLINA NSW 2478
P (02) 6686 7522
F (02) 6686 7470
E ballina@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Minister for Local Government, and Minister for the North Coast
Level 33 Governor Macquarie Tower

1 Farrer Place

SYDNEY NSW 2000

P (02) 9228 3403
F (02) 9228 3442
E office@page.minister.nsw.gov.au

Has to be the worst ad placement yet

 

Taking a trip down memory lane @robboma3 posted this June 2008 UK article on Twitter ……

 

The '100 Dams' Proposal: So who do I believe - Abbott or Hogan?

 

Australian Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott remains determined to dam Australia. An aim he has expressed at various times over a period of years.

 

This policy has been one of the subjects in a speaker’s notes brief distributed to Coalition MPs in July 2012  and, now surfaces again as a conveniently leaked Coalition Dams and Water Management Task Group draft ‘consultation’ paper which has been two years in the making.

 

The leak as reported may be short on detail, however it is obvious that at least one wannabe water raider which has been eyeing off Clarence River Catchment fresh water has had some input concerning the recommendations found in this paper and the Clarence and Mann rivers are listed amongst the '100 dams'.

 

While APN Media Group reports:

 

* The News Limited report indicated most of the proposed dams had been flagged for northern Australia and would be used for irrigation in a bid to double the nation's food production.

But a number of projects are mooted for northern New South Wales, with water to be piped north to the Logan River in Queensland….

Reports revealed the paper - compiled after years of consultation by the conservative parties' Dams Taskforce - included five new dams in northern New South Wales…

* Byrrill Creek Dam is back on the agenda

* a draft discussion paper identifying Byrrill Creek and the Oxley River as potential dam sites.

A significant amount of work was done on the Byrrill Creek dam plan, but it was rejected by Tweed Shire Council in 2011.
"Now, more and more, we're getting people from that area saying we want to expand our water facilities," he [Barnaby Joyce] said.

 

That damming and diverting one or more of the NSW northern rivers is still on the Liberal and National Party agenda is beyond doubt, as in one form or another it surfaces at almost every state or federal inquiry into water security.

 

Yet the Nationals candidate for the seat of Page in the 2013 federal election, Kevin Hogan, tells us that none of the northern rivers are being considered by Abbott & Co for diversion to south east Queensland or the Murray Darling Basin.

 

However, rather curiously Hogan only rules out the creation of major dams – he makes no commitment to no new dams.

 

Which begs the question as to what Abbott and his Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Water Barnaby Joyce may have been privately promising those water hungry mining companies operating (or intending to operate) on the NSW North Coast when discussing infrastructure partnerships:

 

"Now some of these dams will require public funding and at the last election I had half a billion dollars put away in my portfolio as seed capital to this purpose.

Some of them will require private funding and ... myself and (my) chief of staff, Matt Canavan designed the infrastructure partnership scheme which is a mechanism to attract funds from private investment to invest in this nation building infrastructure.

Some of them don't need anything because in such areas as the mining industry they require water to get coal mines up and they'll build them."

After two years of 'investigation' and no community consultation Clarence River Catchment freshwater systems are once more on the table for futher dam construction.

If such a dam was not being considered as Mr. Hogan asserts, why was it included in the list of potential dam sites at all?

Looking back at a taste of things to come - Australian Federal Election Campaign 2013

 

A comic take on basic Australian journalistic interview techniques when faced with The Liberal Rampant. Ignore the outrageous answers and plough on with the prepared questions regardless.

Replace "Rudd" with "Gillard" and "Costello" with "Pyne" and this interview could pass almost unnoticed into this year's federal election campaign.
 

 

U.S. We The People Petition Against Antarctic Whaling - sign now

 

This petition needs over 80,000 signatures before 28 February 2013 if it is to be accepted by the U.S. Obama Administration.

we petition the obama administration to:

Take strong action to stop the Japanese from killing whales in the Southern Ocean Antarctic Whale Sanctuary.
 

The President must take swift and decisive action against Japan's illegal whaling.

Under the Pelly Amendment and the Packwood-Magnuson Amendment, the President has the power to apply economic sanctions against Japan for its continued whale slaughter in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary. The United States asserts that it resolutely opposes whale hunting by Japan, but does little to actually bring a halt to the practice.

The U.S. State Dept. has declared: “We remain resolute in our opposition to commercial whaling, including so-called ‘scientific’ whaling, in particular in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary established by the International Whaling Commission. In this context we wish to emphasize that lethal techniques are not required in modern whale conservation and management.”
 

Created: Jan 28, 2013
 

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