THE state government has put on hold all hydraulic fracturing for onshore gas exploration, but Moorabool Environment Group (MEG) says the ban does not go far enough.
Energy and Resources Minister Michael O’Brien last week suspended all licences for “fracking” until a national framework had been considered as part of coal seam gas reform.
While Moorabool Council was recently urged to sign a moratorium banning coal and coal seam gas mining, a Department of Primary Industries spokesman said coal seam gas exploration was not on the agenda for exploration company Mantle Mining. An Exergen spokesman also confirmed it was not part of their plans.
MEG secretary Deb Porter said it wanted a ban on all new coal projects.
“This is a positive step forward. However, it would have provided greater community confidence in the government if all new coal projects were part of this moratorium,” she said.
“The partial moratorium is not enough with water resources, farmland and food security, local communities and local economies and natural biodiversity all at risk from proposed new coal developments in Bacchus Marsh and the recent announcement of mining in the Wombat State Forest.”
