ENVIRONMENTAL advocate Peter Wills is furious Gunnedah Shire Council's (GSC) draft economic development strategy mentions gas seven times and climate change just once.
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The local council election candidate is upset the council has placed such an emphasis on being "rich in coal and gas reserves" and plans to investigate access to gas as a long term goal.
He's frustrated because a community group was told there was nothing to worry about when they took their concerns about coal seam gas developments to council last year.
"They just said 'you're chasing shadows, there's nothing going on, you're chasing your own shadow'," he said.
"And then this document is really quite a strong proponent for coal seam gas development in its own shire council government document."
Mentions of the Narrabri Gas Project and Hunter Gas Pipeline have also raised alarm bells for Mr Wills.
He said he struggles to understand how after all the negative talk around the project, it still is still being spoken about as an opportunity within council.
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"It's preposterous in 2021 after watching the last decade of the Narrabri Gas project, with the social cohesion issues and long, drawn out debate that's endured around Narrabri and across the state on one of the most controversial gas projects in planning history in NSW, that there's still proponents of that in GSC."
However, mayor Jamie Chaffey said council does not have an official policy on gas, and the strategy document is not set in stone.
He said if people wish to have their say then they should make a submission before 5pm on Monday, September 27.
"The document has been developed by the organisation and endorsed by council in its draft form and it's out on public exhibition," he said.
"So once the submissions are received I'm sure the department within council will make those reviews and it will come back to councillors for consideration."
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