After an 80 minute debate on Wednesday (Nov 28) during which a Mayor Minute was defeated, Councillors reached a consensus and unanimously adopted a lengthy amended motion put forward by Greens Councillor Dominic King.

The motion reads:

1. Whilst Bellingen Shire Council acknowledges their statutory responsibilities in relation to planning development applications and assessment, Council as a matter of social responsibility and in the long term sustainability interests of the environment and the community which they represent, does not support or endorse Coal Seam Gas activities or general mining activities within the Bellingen Shire area and will not alter this position until such time as;

 There are clear land use legislation and policies enacted by the NSW Government to responsibly guide and regulate mining industry especially Coal Seam Gas in relation to their activities particularly the impact on and/or loss of prime agriculture land and other environmentally sensitive issues; and

 It is scientifically proven and demonstrated that the impacts of the mining industry in general, especially Coal Seam Gas Mining, will not result in any significant and detrimental environment outcomes particularly in relation to the local environment. Such scientific proof and demonstration must address the following:

a) Mining activities in a region of extremely high rainfall

b) Impacts on the health of residents

c) The disposal of toxic wastes

d) The development of infrastructure to a more than adequate standard and the protection of current infrastructure, e.g., roads.

e) Other industries are protected from any damage and compensation for damage to other industries (e.g., fishing, oyster growing and tourism) is guaranteed

f) The complete protection of our water supply, rivers and aquifers

g) The complete protection of biodiversity

h) The need to ensure landholders rights are strengthened to include the right to refuse access for exploration purposes and if exploration permission is granted, there is full restoration of land following exploration.

2. The General Manager be directed to inform Council for their notification and consideration where appropriate any notice or development application made to Bellingen Shire Council which involves proposed activities associated with the mining industry within the Shire and especially on Council land.

3. Council write to Clarence Valley Council and Coffs Harbour City Council to investigate the impact that any proposed mining may have on the water quality of the catchment. This would be best achieved through further researching and costing adequate independent water quality testing within the regional water supply.

4. Council support the recent Local Government Association annual conference member councils resolution to write to the relevant Ministers seeking to change legislation to ensure that any new coal seam gas and mining exploration and mining and extraction applications must be approved by means of a council development application.

5. The State and Federal Governments be informed of Bellingen Shire Council’s position.

Earlier in the meeting, Councillors voted 4-3 to defeat a Mayor Minute from Cr Mark Troy that Council:

1. Adopt a policy position of extreme caution with regard to any proposal to mine within the regional water supply catchment area in light of the potential impacts on the natural environment, and the health and wellbeing of the Bellingen Shire community.

2. Write to the Premier, the Environment Minister, the Minister for Planning and the local and state Members of Parliament stating Council’s concerns with regard to any proposal to mine within the regional water supply catchment area in light of the potential impacts on the natural environment, and health and wellbeing of the Bellingen Shire community.

3. Write to Clarence Valley Council and Coffs Harbour City Council to investigate the impact that any proposed mining may have on the water quality of the catchment. This would be best achieved through further researching and costing adequate independent water quality testing within the regional water supply.

Voting against the motion were Crs King, Gordon Manning, Steve Klipin and Gary Carter. For were Cr Troy, David Scott and Desmae Harrison.

Cr King said Cr Troy’s Mayor Minute was too weak. “Extreme caution doesn’t go far enough.”

“You only have to look at the impact of antimony mining on the Urunga site. Image the impact of an open cut mine at the top of the catchment,” he said.

Cr Klipin agreed that ‘extreme caution’ was not sufficient. “Now is the time to honour our commitment to the shire community.”

Cr Manning said ‘extreme caution’ was not strong enough. “It’s taking the middle road. It’s a meaningless statement and too weak compared with Cr King’s motion.”

Speaking to his resolution, Cr King said to date there was no evidence of the existence of coal seam gas deposits within the shire. “There is no evidence of exploration for coal seam gas within the shire.”

“The NSW Aboriginal Lands Council has a Petroleum Special Prospecting Authority Application (PSPAPP 56) over all the shire,” he said. “

We know there are current leases in the shire for further exploration for Category Minerals 1, which includes gold and antimony.”

“We know that Bellingen Shire is in a high rainfall area, resulting in challenges of guaranteeing containment of run-off from mining activities, tailings dumps or any construction aimed at containing water,” Cr King said.

“We know that past mining activity on the Dorrigo Plateau has resulted in serious and long term contamination within the shire.

“We know that CSG extraction processes have caused issues related to water contamination in the Casino area.

“We know that at any time an Application for Minerals or Petroleum Exploration can be made over any and all land within Bellingen Shire.

“We know that a total of 35 councils in New South Wales have declared a moratorium on coal seam gas mining within their shire unless certain conditions can be met.”

“Coffs Harbour Council recently passed a motion in relation to mining and coal seam gas and Gosford Council passed a motion in relation to coal seam gas exploration and mining at the first meeting of their new council.,” he said.

Cr King said

his resolution proposed giving Bellingen Council a general policy position on the matter.