Plans to explore for coal seam gas in Sydney’s water catchment were highlighted in a Nine News report last night.
From the Nine news report:
There is renewed pressure on the government tonight to protect Sydney’s water supply from coal seam gas mining. Two major dams, Warragamba in the west, and Woronora in the south are earmarked for drilling within months.
Apex Energy currently have approval for 15 exploratory wells along the Illawarra escarpment, 7 of these wells are located within they Sydney Catchment Authority’s Special Area catchment land, which is an area controlled by the SCA to protect water quality. Apex currently have before the Department of Planning a request for an additional borehole.
Apex Energy NL holds Petroleum Exploration Licenses (PELs) 442 and 444 in the arrangements shown in the tables below. The PEL’s which lie along the Illawarra escarpment south of Sydney from Helensburgh, North of Wollongong to Dapto, South of Wollongong. In addition the company has negotiated commercial agreements with the holders of CCL703, and CCL 700, for exploiting coal mine gas and coal seam gas within these coal leases.
In NSW Parliament yesterday Greens mining spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham asked if the government supported mining in the special catchment areas given they supply drinking water to 4.3million Australians and given the Sydney Catchment Authority has expressed concern. Duncan Gay for the NSW Government responds in part, “In short, the Sydney Catchment Authority has the role of protecting Sydney water. If it has a concern it is up to it to act. The Government will totally support decisions it has made.” Read more about the question here.
Premier Barry O’Farrell has remained largely silent on the issue of coal seam gas, but Nine reporter Kevin Wilde points out that “the government will have to choose whose side it is on, very soon.”
Watch the Nine news report:
Map of the Illawarra CSG exploration plans:
View Coal Seam Gas in NSW in a larger map
Learn more and get involved in the campaign against CSG in the Illawarra.
