ENVIRONMENT groups say while the end to the plans for pilot testing at the Spring Ridge property was a step in the right direction, a more extensive moratorium was needed to halt pilot production in other areas.
Carmel Flint, spokeswoman for the Northern Inland Council for the Environment, said the NSW government was in complete disarray over its coal seam gas policy after statements made by Minister for Western NSW Kevin Humphries and Minister for Resources and Energy Chris Hartcher on ABC radio on Monday morning did not support each other.
Mr Humphries had said all coal seam gas exploration in NSW would be suspended, while Mr Hartcher had said the halt on drilling was limited to Santos' Spring Ridge operations.
"An ad hoc decision to suspend drilling at one site is a very strange move ... it should be suspended everywhere until scientific studies are completed," Ms Flint said.
Prue Bodsworth of the Wilderness Society Newcastle said it was calling on the state government to suspend all pilot coal seam gas wells, including the pilot production conducted by Santos at the Pilliga Forest.
Email a friend