Shire takes fracking concerns to the Senate

THE Surf Coast Shire is maintaining the pressure on unconventional gas within its borders, taking its objections to the Senate.
The council has been formally opposed to fracking since June of 2015, and has lodged a submission to the Senate Select Committee on Unconventional Gas Mining. Other groups to make submissions are the Municipal Association of Victoria and several Lock The Gate groups, including Frack Free Moriac.
The shire’s submission reiterates the strong community concern regarding the risks and impacts associated with any unconventional gas activity in the region. There is a moratorium on fracking in Victoria. Last year, the state government permit suspended and extended Lakes Oil’s petroleum exploration permit PEP 163 – which covers much of the shire – until October 18 this year.
Councillors noted the submission at their meeting last month.
Winchelsea Ward councillor Carol McGregor said the industry posed too big a risk to vital farming land, water resources and the natural environment of the Surf Coast.
“Council is committed to supporting our residents, farmers and communities that are deeply concerned about the risk that any cessation of the Victorian moratorium on unconventional gas activity poses to our region.”
Torquay Ward councillor Eve Fisher said any unconventional gas industry on the Surf Coast was “completely incompatible with the natural environment that our whole region is built on”.
“We have a precious natural environment on the Surf Coast that we need to protect from threats such as those posed by potential onshore gas operations.”
The state government ran a parliamentary inquiry into the unconventional gas industry last year, but the inquiry’s members could not reach consensus on the future of coal seam gas in Victoria.
A recommendation to totally ban the industry in the state was not agreed to, nor was a recommendation to extend the moratorium for another five years.