Council 'should back moratorium'

A gas drill at work at Keerrong.

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BALLINA Shire Council should support a moratorium on coal seam gas mining in NSW, says councillor Jeff Johnson said.

The NSW Farmers Association has called for the moratorium amid concerns about the environmental impact from drilling and extraction, particularly the risk posed to farmland and water resources.

On Thursday, Cr Johnson will ask his fellow councillors to offer their support to the farming industry.

“I fully support the association until an independent environmental assessment has been carried out on the methods and chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing,” he said.

“The risks posed to our local environment and water table are too high to allow more wells to be approved.”

Cr Johnson also wants the council to write to the Premier, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Shadow Environment Minister and local MPs to “strongly urge a moratorium”.

Lismore City councillors, led by Cr David Yarnall, unanimously backed the moratorium at the council’s December meeting last year.