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Deadline: 26 September 2014. Council runs a fact-finding process and takes public submissions about coal seam gas mining / on-shore gas extraction / fracking. A media release from the City of Greater Geelong Council on 22 August 2014 stated:
“The City of Greater Geelong is seeking further information regarding onshore gas extraction process and will call for public submissions on the issue.
Under a Notice of Motion moved initially by Environment and Sustainability Portfolio holder Cr Andy Richards at a Council meeting in July, a 30-day process is underway to educate Council of the issues associated with this industry.
Cr Andy Richards is calling for public submissions about onshore gas extraction including coal seam, shale gas and tight gas extraction and associated extraction methods such as hydraulic fracking.
“We’re aware that there is a level of concern in the community about onshore gas extraction and are calling for people to have their say about the industry and its possible impacts on the Geelong region.”
“Now is the time to put forward your point of view and any research or evidence that contributes to the debate.”
“State Government is responsible for issuing any permits and there is currently a state-wide moratorium on coal seam gas mining.”
“Submissions open 25 August and can be emailed, mailed or dropped in to customer service centres. We’ll need your input by Friday 26 September which is the closing date for submissions,” said Cr Richards.
A report of the submissions will subsequently be presented to Council.
Background information regarding onshore gas extraction, including coal seam, shale gas and tight gas extraction can be viewed at all City of Greater Geelong customer service centres.
Drop off:
In designated boxes at customer service centres
ENDS”
Please note that the three links that Council is providing are all in favour of gas mining. If you would like to become acquainted with views independent of the industry, we suggest you look on this page which contains information from Doctors for the Environment, Beyond Zero Emissions, Australia Institute, and The Climate Institute.
Ask Council to apply for the exemption
When you write your submission to City of Greater Geelong, consider copying the text below into your submission in some form or another:
Surf Coast Shire has put forward a motion on Unconventional Gas Exploration and Development expressing concern about potential impacts and lack of regulatory framework. (See council minutes for motion details, page 177, link below). It seems the Shire can apply to be exempt from this type of mining, but needs the community to ask council, through letters and emails, to apply for the exemption. If this holds true, then I would hereby like to ask City of Greater Geelong Council to do the same. Dear councillors, you must apply for this extension just like Surf Coast Shire is doing it and ensure that City of Greater Geelong remains gas mining free.
‘Farmland Not Gaslands’ trailer. Published onyoutube.comon 21 August 2014.
When plans for unconventional gas mining threaten to invade Gippsland and Western Victoria, communities fight back and prove they are a force to be reckoned with.
Don’t miss your chance to see the new locally made film by Melbourne producer and director Pennie Brown.
It is utter madness how the government wants to destroy the best farm land in Australia. Any party approving onshore gas drilling will have to fight the community every step of the way, because farmers, environmentalists and communities are ready to blockade this invasive gas industry.
Melbourne Premiere (followed by expert panel discussion)
Date: Thursday 11 September 2014 at 6.30pm
Venue: Kino Cinemas, Collins Place, 45 Collins St, Melbourne CBD
Tickets: $19 adult, $15 concession
» Buy them at:www.effm.org.au
Gippsland Premiere
Date: Saturday 13 September 2014 at 6.30pm
Venue: Sale Cinema, 50 Cunninghame st, Sale
Tickets: $15 for sale at the door
All profits go towards supporting communities threatened by unconventional gas in rural Victoria.
There was a very loud applause from the audience of 150 concerned Geelong citizens who attended the council meeting on Tuesday evening 22 July 2014 whenever a question had been asked to the Geelong councillors about whether the invasive gas mining and fracking industry will be allowed to begin its toxic industrialisation in areas of City of Greater Geelong and about the council’s community consultation procedures.
“This is not about protesting. This is about advocating for plain common sense. Why should we turn Geelong region into an invasive gasfield industrial zone when we have clean, renewable energy sources that make a lot more common sense in every aspect – economically, environmentally and climate-wise?,” said Mik Aidt, a Geelong resident, father of three children aged between five and nine years, and – in particular for that reason – a founding member of Frack Free Geelong.
Council resolved at the meeting on to commence a 30 day process to educate Council on the issue of ‘fracking’. Council’s general manager Gary van Driel explained in a letter sent to Frack Free Geelong on 28 July about the expectations and dates of the process:
“Council will be seeking advise from relevant State government departments and agencies as well as experts in various fields. Council will also review any information provided by community groups and individuals.
This process will be followed by Council taking public submissions on the issue of coal seam gas mining, and in particular, the ‘fracking’ process for a period of one month commencing 24th August 2014.
The process outlined will provide opportunity for Council to consider its position regarding coal seam gas mining which can then be reflected in the Environmental Management Strategy.”
At the bottom of this page you will find the Geelong Advertisers report on what happened at the Geelong City Council’s meeting:
An excerpt:
“In bringing a notice of motion, Cr Andy Richards explained that as part of the council’s Environment Management strategy’s public consultation process it became apparent the city would have to deal with concerns surrounding the practice of Coal Seam Gas Extraction, or in particular the practice of hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’. He noted concerns included the impact on quality and quantity of the region’s water supply; the impact on health from toxic chemicals, and the impact of heavy vehicles on the community. He moved that the council take public submissions on Coal Seam Gas Extraction, particulary fracking, for one month, and a submission report be presented to the council. (…)
Cr Stretch Kontelj suggested the notice of motion be deferred but that was defeated on a show of hands.
Cr Kylie Fisher moved an amendment, arguing for a 30-day process to educate councillors in fracking be undertaken followed by taking public submissions for a month and that a submission report be presented to council as part of the environmental management strategy.
Cr Fisher said it was important that the city would be working through a process and taking public submissions.
Cr Nelson said he knew a little about fracking and it concerned him but that more time than 30 days was needed to understand the issue. The motion was passed with Cr Nelson voting against.”
Strategy Meeting
Members of the Frack Free Geelong group decided today to call for an open anti-fracking strategy meeting on Thursday 31 July at 7pm at Trades Hall in the Auditorium, 127 Meyers Street.
» Read more
How will Geelong Council involve the community in its decision-making processes about fracking?
The following update as to what happened at the Geelong City Council’s meeting is written by Alan Manson from Frack Free Grovedale. It was sent via email to the members of Frack Free Geelong
At least 50 people supporting our cause arrived outside Council’s chambers prior to the meeting. There were two big groups in attendance that evening – the C300 Building Planning group and our Fracking group. It was standing room only. We had plenty of placards on parade, and because of this managed to educate the occasional C300 person about Fracking.
During Question Time, Ingrid Flood asked the following question:
I am aware that Council has been attending to the issue of ‘fracking’ in relation to it Environmental Management Strategy report that is yet to become available, and that fracking was to be included in the final version of the EMS.
I am also aware that Council indicated in its 8th July meeting it had changed its mind by saying the fracking report would no longer be included in the EMS but dealt with by Council in the first meeting to be held in August.
Since then, I also understand Council’s City Services General Manager (Garry Van Driel) has written to Lyn Manson stating that Council will shortly invite public submissions regarding the issue of gas fracking for a period of one month.
I read on page 166 of Council’s Agenda for tonight, Cr. Andy Richards is putting forward a motion that says:
“Council take public submissions regarding the issue of Coal Seam Gas Extraction and in particular fracking, for a period of one month commencing 23 July 2014.”
My concerns here are that the General Manager says Council will “shortly invite public submissions … for a period of one month” and that Cr. Richards is moving that the one month period commences tomorrow – the day after this meeting ends.
Don’t these statements oppose Council’s recently announced Community Engagement Policy that was approved by your CEO as recently as the 8th July?
In Council’s document CPL10.2 Community Engagement Policy, Council has agreed to implement the procedures and guidelines that are in accordance with the IAP2 standards, which includes Council’s commitment to INFORM, CONSULT, INVOLVE, COLLABORATE and EMPOWER the community in its decision-making processes.
In the issue of fracking and the statements referred to above, it is clear that the IAP2 procedures are being swept aside.
If Council is genuinely committed towards applying IAP2’s core values into the fracking issue, shouldn’t this mean that Council should commence establishing information for the public to become educated about fracking on its website, libraries and other public places prior to commencing the period in which submissions are to be received?
My question is directed to the Mayor.
Should the proposed Notice of Motion tonight be amended to read that “Council immediately implement its Community Engagement policy by establishing information throughout the Geelong region about fracking in accordance with IAP2 standards prior to implementing a 30 day period for submissions to be received.”
The CPL10.2 document Ingrid Flood referred to was pivotal, because it explains how Council should be conducting their investigations into Fracking by implementing the procedures they have previously agreed to last meeting.
If Council implemented this policy, this would mean that:
1.Council should put information that presents the pros and the cons of Fracking on their website;
2.Establish a display area about Fracking in each of its libraries;
3.Advertise the displays to the public in the media;
4.Advertise the opening and closing dates for submissions to be received;
5.Be accountable in their processing of the public’s submissions (e.g. the contents of each submission received should be posted on their website);
6.Be transparent in the manner they conduct any public consultations;
7.Hold a public meeting to allow public discussion regarding the content of the report the Councillors will be using to vote on, which should contain comments from Council officers together with comments from the submissions received.
Establishing such a process would then permit the Geelong community the opportunity to become fully educated on ‘unconventional gas’ mining and sufficiently informed to fully ‘engage with Council’ to determine a policy.
However, the Council meeting saw councillors adding an additional period of time to that suggested in the Notice of Motion. They increased it from 30 days commencing Wednesday (23rd July) during which time the Councillors will educate themselves on the pros and cons of CSG mining followed by a further 30 day period in which submissions will be received from the public.
Although some people within the Frack Free group considered this was a good outcome, the reality is that had Council applied its CPL10.2 Community Engagement Policy document as it should have, this would mean the onus would be on Council to undertake the community education process whereas now, the requirement falls back on a few in the community to find the mammoth resources needed to undertake the community education process, and to motivate the community to make a choice whether to put in a submission or not. Naturally, such a task is doomed to fail unless a miracle happens.
Also, it seems unfair that Council are in no way seeking to disclose if they will adopt any recognised procedure relating to:
What sources of information councillors will use relating to CSG mining? Could it be political party propaganda or possibly mining company literature? Who knows?
Would they accept and use information given to them from sources (say) Frack Free Geelong?
What process do they have in place regarding the processing of the submissions so that the community can feel that their voice has been responded to?
Request
In view of the above irregularities in this process and especially that Council has effectively circumvented its own CPL10.2 Community Engagement Policy (thereby making it null and void) I believe everyone in Geelong should write to the councillors and require them to give their reasons why they voted to avoid using the CPL10.2 Community Engagement Policy document.
Public Meeting
At the Council meeting I handed out flyers (below) that omitted the date of the meeting. I did try to correct the error before people went into the meeting, but some may not have heard.
If you know of anyone who received a flyer, please advise them the meeting is next Thursday the 31st July.
Newspaper Article
Below is a copy of the newspaper article emailed to the media for publication.
Hope to see you next Thursday!!
Alan Manson
Frack Free Grovedale
Concerned residents wait outside Council’s chambers to voice their concerns about fracking
Council decision on fracking postponed to September
Councilors admit during debate on Coal Seam Gas mining (commonly known as Fracking) they have little knowledge about the subject and need time to do some research.
By Alan Manson
More than 50 people from the Geelong community attended last Tuesday’s Ordinary Council Meting to express their concerns regarding Council’s attitude towards the possibility of Fracking occurring in the region despite a moratorium being in place.
During question time, Armstrong Creek resident Dan Cowdell asked why Council can’t adopt the same position as the Surf Coast Council has; and Hamlyn Heights resident Fleur Brique explained how she and her family have experienced Fracking operations in Lismore NSW first hand and the disaster it had inflicted upon the entire region. She warned councilors that those in authority overseas who had approved Fracking operations were now being personally sued for damages, and were councilors aware of this.
Grovedale resident Ingrid Flood reminded Council that at their last meeting, they agreed to implement their CPL10.2 Community Engagement Policy (CEP) that incorporates the IAP2 standards that requires Council to “INFORM, CONSULT INVOLVE, COLLABORATE and EMPOWER the community in its decision-making processes”.
Council’s history with Fracking has been quite the opposite approach, as Fracking did not appear in their draft Environmental Management Strategy (EMS) document late last year, and it was only through the community’s responses received earlier this
year that Council chose to investigate the matter further.
Council initially announced it would include Fracking in the revised EMS; but then decided to separate the EMS report for debate in their first August meeting, which was a process that excluded any community participation. Last Tuesday’s meeting voted to allow a 30 day period for Councilors to gain their own understanding about the issues related to Fracking while allocating a further 30 day period to receive submissions from the public prior to them voting on it some time in September.
Despite interjections from the gallery they were ignoring their CEP obligations that made their handling of the Fracking issue a mockery, Council continued to vote the motion through.
Considering the devastating environmental, human health, groundwater contamination and road transport issues this industry has had on communities throughout many countries of the world, Council’s hypocritical approach to their Community Engagement Policy left those in the gallery ‘fracked-off’.
A public meeting for those interested in helping to educate the Geelong community about Fracking will be held in the Trades Hall Auditorium on Thursday 31st July at 7pm.
CALL FOR ACTION: Community Group Frack Free Geelong plans to make a strong statement to Council with a protest at the Council meeting on Tuesday 22nd of July.
A large group is expected to attend the Council meeting with signs, banners and placards.
Fracking poses many risks for Geelong’s environment and to the health and welfare of the broader community.
Unimpressed with Councils indecision on the issue of fracking to date Frack Free Geelong’s Lyn Manson says: “Now is the time for the Geelong community to voice its opposition to fracking.”
The councilors will be put on notice with many members of the group planning to ask questions during question time.
At the council meeting it is expected that a motion for community consultation on Coal Seam Gas will be passed, this will give the community 30 days to provide submissions on the issue.
It is hoped that Councilors will support the communities concern and lock the gate on Coal Seam Gas mining.
Frack Free Geelong will also encourage Council to follow in the footsteps of the Surf Coast Shire and produce a motion to the State Government supporting the extention of the moratorium on coal seam gas exploration and operations and requesting a comprehensive investigation into the likely effects of unconventional gas exploration and mining on public health, the environment, agriculture and food security, local communities and tourism.
Photo opportunity:
There will be a photo opportunity at the Council Meeting
Geelong City Hall, 22 July 2014 at 6:30pm
Frack Free Geelong are a community group concerned about the risk that coal, coal seam gas, tight gas and shale gas exploration will have on Geelong and the Surf Coast. The group currently consists of approximately 400 concerned citizens in the Geelong region.
Environment opposition spokeswoman Lisa Neville of the Labor Party gave an address at the annual MAV Environment Conference in Melbourne on Wednesday 1 May 2014. She was asked if Labor would ban fracking should it be elected in November, and replied:
“We do not support fracking – at the moment. We do not believe there should be any approvals without the assessments on the impact on local communities, on the environment, on the health, on the water supplies, and unless the reports show that everything is fine, we will not support fracking.”
A resident of Geelong, Lisa Neville represents the Australian Labor Party and is currently serving as the member for Bellarine in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.
Four weeks later, in the end of May 2014, ALP released its ‘Platform’ for the state election in November. In this paper, they write:
“Labor recognises that the interests of the mining industry, the agricultural sector and the environment in the regulation of mineral exploration and mining and extractive industry operations must be equitably balanced.”
This is a very disappointing statement which calls for some further explanation and clarification from AFL: So what are they saying?
How can interests of the mining industry’s extractive industry operations be “equitably balanced” with environmental concerns when the environmental damage is already so well documented as far as poisoned water, leaked methane and dreadful impacts (many which occur decades after the drilling has ended) are concerned?
This “equitably balanced” statement means that Lisa Neville’s statement of 1 May 2014 is no longer credible.
The Labor Party will need to explain if it is now the party’s official policy to trust the glossy PR material from the gas mining industry where it claims that its operations are “clean”, “safe” and “green” (“better than coal”), or if they accept the scientific research and the numerous reports which give evidence that the industry cannot be trusted. That it is at times directly lying, at other times conveniently manipulating with the figures.
Considering the seriousness and urgency of the climate change crisis, there is no “equitably balanced” way to deal with the gas mining questions. Demanding a permanent ban on fracking is the only position that makes environmental sense and shows concern and responsibility towards the coming generations.
Frack Free Geelong has set up a petition to urge the Council to make a clear stand on the issue of gas mining in our area. If you would like to sign it, go towww.frackfreegeelong.org/petition
Frack Free Geelong members have literally put their bodies on the line, marking out the edge of the PEP163 gas exploration license in the heart of Highton to get the City of Greater Geelong’s attention.
More than two dozen anti-fracking protesters lined up from the corner of Barabool Road and Marcus Street, Highton, to demonstrate with hazard tape the exploration license’s proximity to schools and homes.
Frack Free Geelong spokeswoman Elizabeth Packett said the purpose of the event was to raise awareness about how much the license was infringing on the urban environment, and to urge Geelong council to take a stand on gas mining in the area.
To date the council has not stated its position on the issue and the citizen group has urged councillors to do so. The state moratorium against fracking, which runs until June 2015, does not protect Geelong and the Surf Coast from exploration drilling.
“We need to know that the council is taking the threat to Geelong residents seriously, and will represent us by calling on the resources minister to remove residential areas, as well as water catchment areas such as the Anglesea borefield, from the exploration license,” said Ms Packett.
“Colac Otway and Surf Coast councils have already expressed their concerns about the industry to the minister. We need to know where Geelong council stands.”
Greens candidate for western region Lloyd Davies and Surf Coast Shire councillor Eve Fisher both attended Saturday’s event.
“Fracking has me terrified, there is just no other way to put it,” Cr Fisher said.
“To think that residents in Waurn Ponds and Highton – as well as much of Surf Coast Shire – may have fracking wells on their door steps beggars belief.”
Cars tooted their support as the Frack Free Geelong members made their way along Barabool Road and up Marcus Street.
“This industry is on, and even over, our doorsteps. We were shocked to find that the current PEP163 exploration license goes over suburban and residential areas of Geelong, and covers parts of Waurn Ponds and Highton,” said Ms Packett.
PETITION
Frack Free Geelong calls on the City of Greater Geelong council to recognise the community’s concern about coal seam gas and other forms of unconventional gas mining and advocate for the prevention of further gas exploration and mining in the area.
Frack Free Geelong recommends the Council to move a motion similar to the following:
1) That Council advocates to the state and federal governments for a ban on new gas exploration and mining/extraction in the City of Greater Geelong until it is proven to be safe.
2) That Council works with the community to stop gas exploration, extraction or mining by keeping the community up to date with all relevant information as it becomes available, and by providing resource support to community groups.
3) That Council opposes gas exploration, extraction, mining or infrastructural work on land it owns or manages until it is proven to be safe.
4) That council incorporates this position into its Environmental Management Strategy which is currently out for public comments.
Group urges council to show its stance on fracking
Surf Coast Times – 6 February 2014 By James Taylor
About the Surf Coast Motion
Frack Free Geelong commends the Surf Coast Shire Council and Barwon Water for taking the concerns of their constituents seriously.
Frack Free Geelong congratulates both the Surf Coast Shire Council and Barwon Water for their recent public statements of concern about the negative impacts which they believe the exploration and extraction of unconventional gas will have in our area.
Now we would like to see the City of Greater Geelong council, and Barwon Health along with Barwon Water make a very clear stand against this practice.
About the Environmental Management Strategy 2013-2017
The City of Greater Geelong council is currently drafting their Environmental Management Strategy 2013-2017, but as yet, there is no mention of gas mining within this paper. Frack Free Geelong encourages all citizens who understand that this is an important strategy document for Geelong, and who are concerned abut the environmental impacts of fracking in our region, to send a personal message to the Council asking them to consider adding a section about the Council’s position on fracking.
Frack Free Geelong presents the acclaimed documentary film ‘Gasland Part II’. It is a must see for anyone who wants to know more about the impact of gas mining and fracking.
» You can help promote the event on Facebook by copying this link and paste it on a Facebook wall or page:
The full Gas Market Taskforce report has been provided to the Victorian Government and is being released for public comment.
It would be fantastic to get heaps of submissions in from members of Frack Free Geelong. Submissions are due by the end of March 2014.
“The Gas Market Taskforce, chaired by former Federal Minister Peter Reith, was established in January 2013 by Premier Ted Baillieu to examine gas supply issues. The release of this report demonstrates the Victorian Coalition Government’s commitment to full public consultation about how Victoria should address these important issues.
The Government will consider a wealth of information from a variety of sources in order to gain a full and comprehensive understanding of this issue before moving forward.
The Government received the final report on November 1, 2013 and will now consider its findings and respond in due course. The report will be one input the Government considers to build a comprehensive picture of the issues around gas policy.
The Government will consult widely on these issues and there will be future opportunities for community input.”
Noah Beecher Kelk wrote:
“Quit Coal is working on producing a fairly long and detailed one but if you don’t have time for that then don’t worry! I’ve put together a few dot points that you can use some or all of. The submissions only need to be a paragraph long, but they can be as long as you want! I have some more technical points that a few more knowledgable Quit Coalers put together so if you want to really sink your teeth into a response then email me back and I’ll pass them on.
The most important thing is that we want to make it clear to the government that WE DO NOT WANT THIS INDUSTRY.
So if you want to completely ignore my dot points that is totally fine, just speak from your heart about why you oppose the development of an onshore gas industry.
Report is heavily biased – why were there gas industry members on the supposedly impartial taskforce?
Report only addresses ‘how to make the industry most effective’ without first asking ‘should we have this industry’?
Affected communities need to be consulted – without their input, no report is adequate;
Ignores widespread community opposition and participatory democracy that has been organised at ground level;
Report ignores widespread complaints against fracking from Queensland and NSW, and overseas;
Report claims we need more gas for Victoria when there is more than enough coming from offshore wells, for example in the Bass Strait;
Report is a thinly veiled attempt to create an export industry to allow large corporations to increase their profit margin by selling to an overseas market instead of the cheaper domestic market;
Linking the domestic market with the overseas market will cause domestic prices to skyrocket. Peter Reith is aware of this and claims that destroying farmland with unconventional gas mining is the only way to offset this;
In fact there are many alternatives including storing gas for domestic use, finding alternative power sources such as renewable energy, and alternative chemical feedstocks such as biochar.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Annoyingly there’s no ability to upload word documents/bigger submissions. Must use online submission form.
On the maps below, you can see where authorities have given the mining company Lakes Oil permission to drill for gas exploration. the area covers wineries and reserves, as well as the Waurn Ponds campus of Deakin.
When the state government grants a licence to a company, existing legislation throughout Australia allows that company to mine anywhere within that licence, even if it is on private land. In order to maintain good public relations, most mining companies try to gain permission from land-holders, but in reality a land-holder has no legal right to stop mining from occurring on their land.
A large zone of land, running from Highton to Anglesea, is currently under licence for gas exploration. On Saturday the 15th of February at 2pm, Frack Free Geelong, a community based group who are opposed to gas exploration and mining in the region, hope to bring attention to this issue by marking out a section of the zone with hazard tape.
“As we’ve seen from overseas and interstate, fracking poses serious threats to our health, drinking water, rivers, farmland, and other industries, particularly tourism,” said Elizabeth Packett, spokesperson for Frack Free Geelong.
“We want to raise awareness of this issue in our region by physically marking out an area where a potential gas field could lie. People will be shocked to learn that it’s on the same land as private homes, businesses, churches, kindergartens, sports clubs, Deakin University and even the Highton Cemetery.”
“The state moratorium against fracking, which runs until June 2015, does not protect us from exploration drilling. The mining companies could start that any day, and if they find gas, you can be assured they will do everything they can to extract it. The exploration drilling in itself is a huge investment costing millions of dollars for which these companies will expect a return.”
Concerned citizens are invited to join
“Gas mining is a choice, and if we choose to go down that road, we are locking ourselves into continued fossil fuel addiction for decades. According to the latest peer-reviewed climate science, this is the last thing we should be doing. We have other choices. There is no shortage of sun or wind in our area,” explained Elizabeth Packett.
Frack Free Geelong welcomes people who share our concerns to join our event on the 15th of February. Depending on the response from the City of Greater Geelong Council, the group may launch a petition on the day, asking the Mayor and Councillors to make a commitment to ban gas mining within its borders.
In November 2013, Surf Coast Shire Council addressed the issues of fracking in the region by putting a motion forward to state government in support of a permanent ban on coal seam gas exploration.
Saturday 15th of February 2014 at 2pm: Meet at the corner of Scenic Road and Barrabool Road in Highton.
Frack Free Geelong are a newly formed community group concerned about the risk that coal, coal seam gas, tight gas and shale gas exploration will have on Geelong and the Surf Coast. The group currently consists of approximately 400 concerned citizens in the Geelong region.
Frack Free Geelong calls on the City of Greater Geelong Council to recognise the community’s concern about coal seam gas and other forms of unconventional gas mining and advocate for the prevention of further gas exploration and mining in the City of Greater Geelong.
Frack Free Geelong recommends the Council to move a motion similar to the following:
1) That Council advocates to the state and federal governments for a ban on new gas exploration and mining/extraction in the City of Greater Geelong until it is proven to be safe.
2) That Council works with the community to stop gas exploration, extraction or mining by keeping the community up to date with all relevant information as it becomes available, and by providing resource support to community groups.
3) That Council opposes gas exploration, extraction, mining or infrastructural work on land it owns or manages until it is proven to be safe.
4) That council incorporates this position into its Environmental Management Strategy which is currently out for public comments.
About the Surf Coast Motion
Frack Free Geelong commends the Surf Coast Shire Council and Barwon Water for taking the concerns of their constituents seriously.
Frack Free Geelong congratulates both the Surf Coast Shire Council and Barwon Water for their recent public statements of concern about the negative impacts which they believe the exploration and extraction of unconventional gas will have in our area.
Now we would like to see the City of Greater Geelong Council, and Barwon Health along with Barwon Water make a very clear stand against this practice.
About the Environmental Management Strategy 2013-2017
The Geelong City Council is currently drafting their Environmental Management Strategy 2013-2017, but as yet, there is no mention of gas mining within this paper. Frack Free Geelong encourages all citizens who understand that this is an important strategy document for Geelong, and who are concerned abut the environmental impacts of fracking in our region, to send a personal message to the Council asking them to consider adding a section about the Council’s position on fracking.
Media release
About Frack Free Geelong’s action event on Saturday the 15th of February at 2pm, where Frack Free Geelong hopes to bring attention to this issue by marking out a section of the zone with hazard tape. 5 February 2014
