PEP-11 bill would protect 5k off beach
The State Government has moved a bill to ban off-shore mining from Sydney up to Newcastle, in a bid to stop the controversial PEP-11 licence.
PEP-11 is a licence held jointly by Asset Energy/Bounty Oil and Gas for gas mining and exploration of the beaches off Manly all the way up to the Central Coast. Asset has been seeking an extension of PEP-11, with the Federal Court on 14 February clearing the way for the relevant state and federal ministers to reconsider the request.
In an effort to stop off-shore mining in state waters, NSW Labor introduced a bill to parliament on 7 February, which is seen to largely have the support of the Liberals, given Pittwater MP Rory Amon last year put forward a bill with the same purpose. However, Mr Amon’s bill was recommended for rejection by a parliamentary committee as it said aspects were ‘constitutionally invalid’.
The proposed amendment to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 would ‘prohibit the carrying out of sea-bed petroleum and mineral exploration and recovery and related development’ in an area five kilometres off the Sydney coast in state waters. This would mean that any company undertaking exploration or mining in nearby Commonwealth waters could not build a pipeline to bring petroleum to shore – effectively quashing any mining.
Long-time activists against PEP-11, Surfers for Climate, welcomed the news. “We’re thrilled to see a growing bipartisan approach to climate action in NSW which will also bring jobs and economic opportunities to coastal and regional communities as we shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.”
Ultimately, the decision to extend the licence will rest with Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King. Warringah MP, Zali Steggall, who has already introduced a bill federally to stop PEP-11, told PL that ‘the cleanest way to deal with this once and for all’ was her bill. She called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to support his comments prior to the Federal Election that ‘PEP-11 should be consigned to the dustbin of history’. The bill was to be re-introduced in parliament a third time on 26 February.
Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps, who seconded Ms Steggall’s bill, said: “Stopping new fossil fuel projects, particularly highly risky ones that could damage not only our local environment, but also our industries like tourism and fishing, is the first step towards (transition away from fossil fuels).”
