The NSW Upper House Standing Committee inquiring into coal seam gas will sit in Taree next Monday, 31 October to take evidence from individuals and community groups. A huge number of written submissions have been received and the Committee is convening in a number of locations around the state to take further evidence. The Barrington-Gloucester-Stroud Preservation Alliance made a detailed submission to the Inquiry but was initially excluded from the list of those invited to give evidence to the Committee in Taree. However, subsequent lobbying by BGSPA has resulted in a belated invitation being issued.

BGSPA Chairperson Graeme Healy said that the initial decision to exclude BGSPA was a great shock to everyone. “Obviously, it is not possible to invite everyone to give evidence. However, given that the Gloucester-Stroud Valley is at the forefront of coal seam gas development in NSW and BGSPA has been battling the development for a number of years, the decision made no sense and raised doubts in people’s minds about the objectivity and transparency of the Inquiry.”

Mr Healy said it was pleasing that the Tourism Advancing Gloucester group and Dr Steve Robinson had also been invited to give evidence. “The hearing is open to the public and I encourage those who can spare the time to attend the hearing to demonstrate to the Committee that there is a huge level of concern about coal seam gas development within the Gloucester community. And don’t forget to support ‘Project Blue’. Tie something blue to your front gate or car and wear something blue to the hearing.”

Meanwhile, the appeal against the approval of AGL’s coal seam gas development in the Gloucester-Stroud Valley has wound up in the Land & Environment Court in Sydney after three days of hearings. A decision is not expected to be handed down until early next year. A BGSPA spokesperson said that the case had attracted enormous media and public interest. “In addition to national television coverage, ‘The Economist’ published in the United Kingdom and Germany’s opinion-leading weekly newspaper ‘Die Zeit’, are preparing articles” he said.