Member for Upper Hunter George Souris has tabled a petition in State Parliament calling for coal exploration licences 6523, 6524 and 6563 to be revoked.

The petition, containing approximately 1,000 signatures was officially launched by the MP on Saturday January 24. The petition was the intiative of the Barrington Gloucester Stroud Preservation Alliance and was launched with the support of Gloucester Residents in Partnership (GRIP).

In tabling the petition in parliament last Thursday, March 5, Mr Souris expressed his support for “constituents in the Gloucetser area who, without warning, awoke one day and encountered the prospect of coalmining exploration activities taking place in the immediate proximity of the Gloucester township”.

“There has been considerable adverse reaction in the local community against the prospect of coalmining occurring at such close proximity to the township. Understandably many people are cynical about exploration activity occurring just when the company’s coalmining exploration licences are due to expire and the company is seeking renewal,” Mr Souris told parliament.

“I am surprised that a government could contemplate coalmining activities taking place so close to a township as proposed by the exploration areas referred to in the licences,” Mr Souris said.

Mr Souris said he wanted to let parliamentarians know of the community’s concern and the “cry of opposition to the licence renewal proposal.”

The three licences are held by Gloucester Resources Ltd with two of the licences currently up for renewal.