THE region’s peak environmental action group has called on the new Liberal State Government to cement the 10-year fracking ban in legislation.
This follows revelations Premier Steven Marshall has directed departmental bureaucrats to implement the moratorium that would ban hydraulic fracturing gas mining projects.
Limestone Coast Protection Alliance is seeking a meeting with Mr Marshall to ensure certainty regarding the blanket regional ban.
The Liberal Party’s fracking moratorium was a centrepiece policy for the South East leading up to the state election.
Alliance chairperson Angus Ralton said the organisation was pleased with the government’s directive to the public service, but wanted the ban “enshrined” in legislation.
“We’re very pleased to hear that Steven Marshall is sticking to his promises and has moved quickly to take action on a 10-year fracking ban in our region by issuing a public service directive,” Mr Ralton said.
“However, the community here is very keen to ensure that any ban is both secure and lasting, so we are calling for the premier to go further and enshrine the ban in legislation.
“Farmers and tourism operators in our region need certainty to invest and grow and that means we need legal certainty the Limestone Coast is safe from fracking, as the Liberal Party has promised.”
The alliance has written to both Premier Marshall and Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan seeking a meeting.
“We want to explain why this certainty is so important to our region and we are hoping they can make the time to meet with us soon,” Mr Ralton said.
“Our community also wants to encourage the premier to go one step further and consider protecting the South East from all gasfields, including conventional gas activities which put water resources and the environment at risk.”
During a visit to the Limestone Coast on Wednesday, Mr Marshall reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the fracking moratorium.
He said the Liberal Party did not want to wait for parliament to resume and had since “put the necessary instructions in place” to ensure no application for fracture stimulation, exploration or extraction would be considered.
“We have put the moratorium on fracking in the South East in place already,” Mr Marshall told The Border Watch.
“Fracking is a really big issue for the local community.
“We have listened to the local community in the South East, the majority of which were vehemently opposed to the notion of fracking on their prime agriculture land.”
South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) chief executive Rebecca Knol previously said the “last thing South Australia needs is a moratorium on vital energy sources based on perceived rather
than factual impacts”.
She said such bans dismiss extensive compliance obligations required of operators as part of the approval process for all resources projects.
A Beach Energy spokesperson said while the company’s focus in the South East has solely been on the rejuvenation of conventional gas development, they were concerned with any policy “that seeks to inhibit
the development of a clean and reliable source of energy for the state”.
