MANNING residents wanting to have a say on coal seam gas mining have only until close of business today to lodge submissions to the NSW Legislative Council’s Committee of Inquiry.
The committee has this week announced it has chosen Taree as one of only five locations across the State where the standing committee will also convene for a formal hearing to listen to residents’ concerns.
The committee will meet at a venue yet to be decided in Taree on Monday October 31.
It will specifically invite those who make formal submissions to the inquiry, which should reach the committee by today.
The newly formed Manning Alliance Inc is appealing to residents across the Manning to lodge submissions by today - either their own or with the help of its 17-page pro forma submission, available by contacting Lloyd Parslow on 6553 4951.
The State standing committee is chaired by Robert Brown of the Shooters and Fishers Party, and is expected to release its findings in the first half of next year.
Chairman of the Manning Alliance Inc, Peter Epov, said “This is an important chance and perhaps the one and only real opportunity for the residents of the Manning Valley to express their concern and opposition to the imposition of CSG into our region directly to the NSW Parliament. It should not be missed!”
The government’s moratorium on CSG drilling will lapse on December 31, and “after that it will be too late,” Mr Epov said.
“The State government will announce its position on CSG before Christmas, everyone will go on holidays and nothing will be practically achieved after that. We need to influence and impact on the State government now!”
Manning Alliance is also calling on Greater Taree City Council to establish a community consultative committee to harness the talent bank of people within the Manning to implement a multi-tiered plan aimed at opposing CSG in the valley.
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