The Greens NSW

Greens candidate for the Clarence by-election, Janet Cavanaugh, today responded to the Nationals’ blueprint for coal seam gas mining, calling it a half-hearted attempt at policy development which may never influence the NSW Government if it is not adopted by the Liberal Party.

Greens MP and environment spokesperson Cate Faehrmann says chemical contamination of the Macleay River Catchment caused by a spill from the Straits Hillgrove Mine is not an isolated incident and will happen again if environment protection laws and licencing arrangements are not overhauled.

The Hillgrove Mine near Armidale was fined $50,000 in July 2010 for a similar contamination incident that occurred in April 2009, when 3000 litres of slime containing arsenic and lead was released. A study published by CSIRO found that Bakers Creek, which runs adjacent to the mine, is contaminated with high concentrations of both arsenic and antimony.

"This mine has been prosecuted for licence breaches in the past, and it has been non-compliant for the last ten years. This new spill is yet another reason for a full review of the state's environment protection laws. The capacity of the Office of Environment and Heritage to monitor and enforce these laws also needs to be closely examined," said Ms Faehrmann

Australian Greens Senator for NSW and forests spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says the major parties' refusal to rule out federal funding to support the operations of the proposed Eden wood-fired power station, by voting against a motion she put to Federal Parliament yesterday, suggests the proposal could still have life.

The full motion and debate from Hansard is provided below. Senator Rhiannon and NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge are visiting South East NSW next Tuesday 30 August.

"When I visit South East NSW next week with David Shoebridge we will be talking with locals about stepping up the campaign to stop the construction of a wood-fired power station," Senator Rhiannon said.

"The Greens are concerned that the Federal Minister for Forestry Senator Ludwig did not use the opportunity in Parliament to rule out future funding of the Eden bio-mass power station which is still on the Department of Planning's books.

"We know that the Federal MP for Eden-Monaro Dr Kelly has continued to promote the power station, despite electricity generation from native forest feed-stocks no longer being eligible for Renewable Energy Certificates.

"Biomass power has no future in our low carbon energy economy, but both Dr Kelly and Minister Ludwig have failed to bury the Eden proposal.

 "The leg up that federal funding would provide could see the station built, driving the continued wood-chipping of our precious South East forests.

Greens MP and environment spokesperson Cate Faehrmann has successfully moved a motion in the NSW Legislative Council for the release of government documents relating to the Orica chemical exposure incident.

“We need to get to the bottom of why the government's response was so inadequate," said Ms Faehrmann.

"The Greens motion will require the release of all documents such as emails, reports and briefings in the possession of the relevant departments and Minister's offices within 14 days.

"In the mean time, the Greens are calling on the Opposition Leader and the Premier to back the Greens' bill to strengthen the Protection of the Environment Operations Act by requiring companies to immediately notify authorities of licence breaches.

"This is an easy and immediate step that can be taken to improve the situation while we wait for a full investigation and public inquiry," said Ms Faehrmann.