The Ward 1 campaign website of Community Voice, a ticket of community activists that will stand in the September 3 Wollongong City Council elections, released the statement below on August 9.
* * *
Founding members of Stop Coal Seam Gas Illawarra, Jess Moore and Chris Williams, are standing with Community Voice as Ward 1 candidates in the forthcoming Wollongong City Council elections.
“Residents are concerned about coal seam gas mining and the mounting evidence about its impact on drinking water, health and the environment,” said Moore.
"Under the Administrators, Wollongong City Council rezoned Sydney Catchment Authority land west of the escarpment to permit coal seam gas mining there. They did this on request from the NSW Department of Mineral Resources and despite community opposition.
"It's outrageous that the Administrators made a decision to assist the approvals, rather than inform — and be directed by — the community.”
"In May this year, the Neighbourhood Forums unanimously called on council to declare Wollongong a coal seam gas free zone, but were told it was not a council issue. This is not only hypocritical, given the rezoning, but a dismissal of legitimate and widespread community concern”, Moore said.
"Council should be directed by the community, not vested interests."
"On May 29 over 3000 people spelt out their opposition to CSG at Austinmer beach – one of the biggest community actions ever held in this area,” said Williams.
Community Voice will be a strong voice on council for a moratorium on coal seam gas mining in the region.