Sydney MPs visit gas areas in North West

A delegation of federal politicians was scheduled to visit the Liverpool Plains this week to discuss plans for coal seam gas exploration in the area.

Independent MPs Kylea Tink and Sophie Scamps were yesterday touring the plains to hear from indivduals and groups campaigning against gas development in the region.

The parliamentarians were to be hosted by Liverpool Plains farmers who are fighting to stop gas exploration which they say threatens underground water of both towns and farmers.

The plains account for a third of NSW’s agricultural produce and is regarded as one of the most fertile and productive farming areas in the world.

Anti-gas campaigners point to gas exploration in Queensland which they say has caused land subsidence in addition to water depletion and the devastation of farming areas.

The group will also visit the Pilliga Forest near Narrabri where gas company Santos has approval to build 850 wells. They will also inspect the proposed route of the Hunter gas pipeline which is proposed to border properties north of Gunnedah.

Liverpool Plains Action Group chair Kate Gunn said the delegation had contacted the group with their concerns and decided to visit the area to check out the plans.

Ms Gunn said farmers, who recently blockaded seismic testing trucks being used by Santos to explore for gas near Gunnedah, were reassured their voices were being heard in Canberra.

“It shows the critical importance of food and water security and I know these MPs are keen to see for themselves and report back to fellow independents their findings,” she said.

“The independents, of course, are on the record as being opposed to further fossil fuel development. They will also hear about the environmental damage that Santos’s plans will wreak, decimating native forest, flora and fauna.”

Ms Tink, who was born in Coonabarabran, is the Member for North Sydney and was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2022 Federal Election.

Ms Scamps, the Member for Mackellar, whose electorate covers Sydney’s northern beaches from Palm Beach to Dee Why, is also a first-term MP.

After yesterday’s “round table” discussion about the potential gas impacts, the MPs are today visiting Quirindi to discuss the implications of the Hunter gas pipeline.