Kyogle locks gateway to rainforest

Kyogle Council has joined a growing number of local councils that is opposing the NSW Government and voting for a complete moratorium on all CSG operations on council-owned land.

Kyogle voted unanimously on Monday for the ban, which includes road reserves on the Lions Road where Metgasco has plans to build a pipeline in order to pump gas from Casino to Ipswich.

They follow several other NSW councils that have imposed a similar moratorium including Lismore, Moree Plains, Gloucester, Greater Taree and Warrumbungle.

Kyogle Mayor Ross Brown said Council had already imposed a moratorium until independent scientific assessments about the safety of the CSG industry was forthcoming. As they are yet to see any such assessment, they felt it prudent to strengthen their position.

"It (the moratorium) is a reflection of the community's concerns… we need to make sure there are no long-term impacts on water; on our agricultural land," Cr Brown said. "We want to maintain the sustainability of long-term agriculture and see that's not compromised by a short-term CSG industry."

The Mayor said the prime concern for both Council and the community was contamination of water supplies.

"If you look at the Lions Road and where the pipeline would go, along Lynchs Creek and Gradys Creek, these are the headwaters of the Richmond River, they're the only permanent supply of water to the Richmond River that I know of," Cr Brown said. "If there was contamination that would have an impact on the whole Richmond Valley."

The move has been welcomed by Kyogle GAG (Group Against Gas), which says Council's resolution will make progressing the pipeline more difficult.

"As the Lions Road is a Council-owned road, this action effectively locks the gate on the proposed pipeline to Queensland," spokesperson Boudicca Cerese said. "If this project does get approval from the state government - and this is still some way off as the full environmental assessment has not yet been submitted and considered - the process of acquiring access to the road would not be straight forward for the company."

Mr Wayne Somerville, a psychologist, spoke in public access on Monday, telling Council that CSG companies were painting a fictional picture about how the industry would affect the region.

"If this industry advances in the Northern Rivers we would see it turned into an industrial landscape marred by a spider's web of wells, pipes, roads, camps, fences and toxic ponds," Mr Somerville said. "We would lose the right to enjoy the peaceful and tranquil countryside we love. We would lose financial security through the devaluing of our properties.

"Proponents of this industry propagate a fiction that coal seam gas mining is compatible with agriculture and tourism industries," he continued. "When you look at rural communities that are five years ahead of us in this process, it is clear that the coal seam gas industry cannot coexist with healthy rural communities and landscapes."

Mayor Brown said he was aware the moratorium was not something Council can legally enforce and will request that NOROC (Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils) seeks legal advice for local councils.

According to a legal opinion, The Echo understands Council would be required to go to arbitration if a gas company wishes to challenge the moratorium (on council-owned land), and if either party is dissatisfied with the arbitrator's decision they can choose to take the matter to the Land and Environment Court. On Crown land (state-owned land), the NSW Government would simply be able to countermand Council's decision.

"State government regulations override it (the moratorium) but they will have to come out and override it… this is a political stance," the Mayor said.

Council has also resolved to inform exploration licence holders that prior to the establishment of any "drilling camps" they will be required to submit a DA and comply with Council's vehicular access policy. This would apply to gas crews who have made agreements with landholders to do exploration but need to use Council road reserves to access the site.

"Anyone who is building a house or a new subdivision, where they have to open a new road onto their property, must do a DA and comply with our policy… We expect gas companies to do the same," Mayor Brown said. "We're attempting to use it as a trigger so we know what's going in our local government area."

Metgasco declined to comment on the decision.