NSW candidate for Cowper, Dominic King, called on the state and federal governments to rule out any applications to explore for coal deposits in the seabed off the NSW coastline.
“Our coastline is too precious to risk by allowing experimental offshore coal mining exploration,” said Dominic.
Dominic King is among many Greens candidates in coastal areas who are concerned about the potential damage to our coastline from any offshore mining projects.
The Greens candidate for the Senate, Lee Rhiannon, has been critical of the government’s lack of care for our coastal environment. “The government should have rejected outright the application for a coal exploration licence off Sydney’s coastline,” said Ms Rhiannon.
“There is a real threat that our beautiful coast could be despoiled by mining operations offshore.
“Energie Future applied in 2008 to explore for coal deposits in the sea bed, to employ an experimental offshore coal to liquid gas mining process.
“The exploration licence application has been sitting on the Mineral Resources Minister’s desk, creating growing uncertainty and anxiety for those opponents of the plan.
“It’s time to rule out the proposal and reject the application for an exploration licence.”
“There are serious local concerns that this exploration licence is the opening of the floodgates and exploration will begin to happen up and down the coast,” said Dominic.
“The granting of an exploration licence in NSW is merely the first stage of full scale mining. Any consideration of the impact on whale migration, marine life and the potential pollution of our ocean and beaches should rule out this proposal.
“Seismic testing used in exploration could disrupt whale migration all along the east coast. The northern migration of whales is currently happening and is becoming a big tourist drawcard to the coastal areas.
“Nearly one million whale watchers flock to the NSW coast each year. We are really concerned about the health of our waterways.
“The BP offshore well leak in Florida is an example of offshore mining worst practice and what can go wrong with ill-considered mining operations.
“It is time the government put the value of our beaches and our oceans ahead of the interest of mining companies.”