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Lies, damned lies and economics - the true cost of mining and gas projects

April 15th 2013

Resource companies are routinely exaggerating the projected economic and employment benefits of coal mining and gas projects while downplaying the health and environmental costs, a new report has found.

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW today released Economic assessment of environmentally damaging mining and gas developments in New South Wales, a report by Economists at Large and The Australia Institute that reveals the true cost of seven NSW mining and gas projects currently in the assessment pipeline.

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Community breathes easier as polluting coal terminal put on hold

April 10th 2013

Nature Conservation Council of NSW today welcomed the announcement by Port Waratah Coal Services yesterday [1] that it was putting on hold plans for a fourth coal export terminal at Newcastle.

NCC chief executive officer Pepe Clarke said the proposed fourth coal terminal, dubbed T4, had been the focus of a concerted campaign by local residents concerned about the impacts of coal dust on human health.

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Planning system must protect the environment, community participation

April 4th 2013

Meaningful public participation and strong environmental protections must be cornerstones of the new planning system in NSW, said two of the state’s leading environmental organisations today.

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC) and Total Environment Centre (TEC) have prepared a checklist (attached) they will use to assess whether the NSW Planning White Paper, due to be released soon, will protect the state’s clean air and water, native wildlife and communities.  In order to meet the community’s needs and expectations, the new system must:

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Political leaders must respect public opposition to CSG drilling

April 3rd 2013

The state government must listen to the people and ban coal seam gas development on farmland, according to the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, the state’s peak environment group.

“Today’s Fairfax Media/Nielsen poll [1] demonstrates overwhelming community opposition to coal seam gas development on farmland,” said Nature Conservation Council campaigns director Kate Smolski.  

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Community opposition to uranium exploration remains strong

March 27th 2013

A petition tabled in the NSW upper house yesterday demonstrates continuing strong community opposition to the development of a uranium mining industry in this state.

The petition, initiated by the Nature Conservation Council of NSW and signed by almost 2,500 people, is in response to the O’Farrell government’s decision to end a 26–year ban on uranium exploration. 

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Time to take handover of environmental powers off the table for good

March 26th 2013

Conservation groups again called on the Federal Government to remove from federal law, once and for all, any possibility of environmental approval powers being handed to states, just as it has with the new “water trigger” under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

While oil and gas companies yesterday claimed $200 billion of developments are being held back, just last month business groups were unable to provide any evidence to a Senate inquiry that handing over powers would result in efficiency or productivity gains.

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O’Farrell's failing grade on environmental protection, sustainability

March 25th 2013

The state’s leading environmental organisations will today release a mid-term report card on the O’Farrell Government’s performance on environmental protection and sustainability.

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National protection for water resources an important step in the right direction

March 21st 2013

Important changes to Australia’s national environmental law will be debated in parliament today, aimed at providing federal protection for water resources threatened by coal seam gas and large coal mines.

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC) has welcomed the introduction to parliament of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill 2013, but warned that the risk of federal environmental powers being transferred to the states remains unresolved.

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NSW land clearing laws must be maintained

March 21st 2013

The sudden cancellation by the O’Farrell Government of a high-level meeting of farmers and environmentalists to review the state’s land clearing laws, on the day the Queensland Government weakened its bushland clearing laws has raised concerns among peak environment groups.

“We had been told there would be a process of consultation and negotiation – but the Friday meeting has been suddenly cancelled – certainly not at our request,” said Jeff Angel, Executive Director of the Total Environment Centre.

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Water decision will be useless if environmental powers go to states

March 19th 2013

Conservationists are worried Environment Minister Tony Burke’s decision to use the federal
environment law to protect water resources from coal seam gas projects will count for nothing if
final approval powers for big developments are handed to state governments.

The Places You Love alliance has today run an advertisement in a major daily newspaper calling
on Minister Burke to remove from federal law any possibility of environmental approval powers
being handed to states.

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© 2012 Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales Australia Inc. Except where otherwise explicitly authorised, any material on this website which may be construed as electoral material or an electoral matter under any State or Commonwealth Law is authorised by Pepe Clarke, on behalf of the Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales Australia Inc.  Level 2, 5 Wilson Street, Newtown NSW 2042 Tel +61 2 9516 1488 Fax +61 2 8026 8301. Privacy

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