The rapid expansion of Victoria’s coal and unconventional gas industries threaten the health of rural communities, will destroy farmland, contaminate water supplies and make a massive contribution to global warming. It’s time to call on the government to halt new coal and unconventional gas projects until they are scientifically proven to be safe.
What’s happening?
Earlier this year six local councils and 59 organisations joined Friends of the Earth in calling on the Victorian government to institute a moratorium* on all new coal and unconventional gas exploration and operations. This included:
• Coal
• Coal seam gas (CSG)
• Other unconventional gas (e.g. shale gas and tight gas)
The moratorium would halt all such activities until they are scientifically proven to be safe for:
• our families and communities
• our food production
• our water
• our natural ecosystems
What we’ve achieved?
Since Friends of the Earth launched the moratorium campaign there has been mounting opposition to the expansion of Victoria’s coal and gas industries. This has forced the Victorian government to address community concerns and institute a moratorium on all gas operations involving hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Umm, Mr Baillieu you forgot something!
The current moratorium on fracking only addresses risks associated with one element of the coal and gas industries. It does not address risks to health, farmland, communities and water associated with:
• the extraction of shallow gas deposits that do not require fracking.
• the planned expansion of Victoria’s coal industry, including open cut coal mines.
The government has only committed to halt fracking until the release of the federal government’s National Harmonised Framework for the CSG industry. This is due for release as early as December.
Let’s Make It Happen
The Victorian Government has admitted there is a problem. Now is the time to urge the government to take all necessary action to stop irreversible damage to Victoria’s most valuable agricultural land. It’s a myth that coal and gas mining can safely co-exist with communities and farmland. We will continue to campaign until the government institutes a moratorium on all new coal and unconventional gas operations in Victoria.
We’d love you to help us in our campaign:
Spread the word – We’re on the hunt for other organisations interested in supporting our call for a coal and gas free Victoria. If you know of a likely organisation, or want more information email us at [email protected]
Get involved – If you have some free time to help us in our campaign please email us at [email protected]
Sign the petition – If you are an interested individual (or you know one who is) sign our online petition.
Donate – Support the campaign financially by donating through the Quit Coal campaign page.
* A moratorium is a temporary delay or suspension of an activity. A moratorium on coal and unconventional gas projects in Victoria would allow time for scientific research into the risks of these industries to communities, food production, water and natural ecosystems.