GRANT District Council will co-sign an open letter to South Australian Premier Steven Marshall expressing opposition to the new petroleum exploration licences released across the state.
The Fossil Free South Australia-led campaign has called on the state’s councils to co-sign the letter, which comes on the heels of the State Government’s agenda to ramp up gas and oil exploration opportunities across regional areas.
The new exploration areas sweep across the Grant district and could potentially lead to gas and oil production.
Cr Brad Mann called for elected members to support the letter requesting fossil fuel exploration and extraction be phased out in the state.
“I know that fossil fuels are not going anywhere any time soon, but if we can work towards slowly getting rid of them then it is something that we as a nation can stand up and say we made a difference to,” Cr Mann said.
“I think we should take the moral high ground and actually support this because it is well worth the effort to try and say to our leaders that we are not happy with what you are planning to do.”
The letter calls on the State Government to revoke the May 2019 release of oil and gas exploration areas.
These include the Cooper, Eromanga and Otway basins and to ban all further fossil fuel exploration and all new fossil fuel extraction projects – those not yet approved – in South Australia.
Cr Mann argued Australia’s carbon footprint was already significant and supported a move towards renewable energy.
“We are the world’s biggest coal exporter and the biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, so that takes our carbon footprint from 1.4pc to more like 5pc,” the elected member said.
“There are a couple of big players in renewable energy who are going to help power Singapore and Indonesia with 6000 solar panels built in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
“It would be amazing to become an exporter of power rather than an exporter of coal or LNG.”
Mr Mann ultimately requested council support the letter to provide a better world for the next generation.
“I would just like you to support this motion for the reason that one day we are going to have to hand this world onto our kids,” he said.
In addition, Cr Megan Dukalskis suggested they join Holdfast Bay council by including a request for a moratorium on oil and gas exploration in the Great Australian Bight.
Cr Mann supported an amendment to the motion.
“Conventional gas opens the door to a move to unconventional gas later … the water issues with unconventional gas are horrendous and something we need to be really careful of,” Cr Mann said.
While Grant District Council is now on board with Fossil Free SA, Mount Gambier City Council made no decision at Tuesday night’s meeting.
City Council deferred the matter until next month’s meeting.
