MOUNT Gambier City Council’s stance on conventional gas mining in the region will be explored with plans in place to hold a special meeting on the matter before the end of the year.
Putting forward a motion without notice at last week’s full council meeting, Cr Penny Richardson called for a members workshop to take place with representatives from the Limestone Coast Protection Alliance and Beach Energy in order to gain a better understanding of gas mining – both conventional and unconventional.
A controversial topic in the region with conventional gas exploration under way near Penola, Cr Richardson said the council needed a better understanding of what is taking place.
“The motion is proposed as a further step in informing members to the wisdom of not only unconventional gas mining in the Limestone Coast, which we have said we oppose, but conventional gas mining as well,” she said.
“I know that we have a stance on not approving fracking, but conventional mining is occurring and quite honestly I don’t know whether we should make a stance on that or not.
“The motion will enhance what we already know – if we are going to put signs around do we want to say ‘no fracking’ or ‘no gas mining full stop’?”
Questioning the need for a meeting, Cr Frank Morello said he would not support the motion if it was to include fracking.
“As the City of Mount Gambier we already have a stance on this – our position is we don’t support unconventional gas mining – shared by a large cross section of the community as well,” he said.
“I would be happy for the two groups to share their views on conventional gas mining, but we have a view on unconventional.”
Hearing Cr Morello’s view on the motion, Cr Richardson agreed to remove unconventional gas mining and focus solely on conventional.
The motion was carried with majority in support of a meeting.
