"COMMON sense has won over money." That is the view of Greater Taree City Council mayor Paul Hogan on today's announcement by AGL that it will abandon the Coal Seam Gas (CSG) project at Gloucester.
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"I've always believed it is critical that we protect our water. I'm so happy that this has happened," Cr Hogan said.
"The members of Gloucester Groundswell and Manning Clean Water Action Group should be proud of what they have achieved.
"I was surprised by the news. It's a big decision to withdraw."
Former president of Manning Clean Water Action Group (MCWAG) Chris Sheed OAM says he is delighted at the decision.
"Although the decision to pull out was expected, it is certainly a great relief to have it confirmed," Mr Sheed said.
"Groundswell Gloucester and MCWAG have campaigned consistently and tirelessly against AGL for many years now and it is good to know that our work has yielded fruit.
"AGL really had no other choice, the gas price was against them and so was the wider community. They now want to focus on renewables and that is to be commended.
"This is effectively the end of CSG in NSW. When we created MCWAG in 2011 we were determined to ensure that NSW did not go down the same path as Queensland with coal seam gas. We wanted to nip it in the bud and we have achieved that.
"It is a day for celebrating the strength of community. A small bunch of people can indeed change the world. But there is no time for complacency ... Australia and the world is in a dire ecological state with species loss, habitat loss, pollution and climate change. We will have to pull out all stops if we are to avoid disaster. There is a massive job ahead."
