THIS WEEK TOWN AND COUNTRY: OCEAN DRILLING
1.IN THE CBD
We all love Sydney Harbour. Everyone who crosses the harbour looks with some envy on a fine day, with those who are sailing the thousands of yachts around the Harbour. The water in the Harbour suffers from pollution every time it rains. Our drains bring torrents of water, dog poo, cigarette butts, newspapers, lawn clippings and several million leaves into the Harbour. If it hasn’t rained for some time, the rain washes all the oil drips from a million cars down the drain to leave an oily film on the Harbour. And from all those yachts on the water, come empty beer bottles and cans and effluent pump out from onboard toilets.
Because people want pristine water in the Harbour millions of dollars every year are spent on a fleet of small boats, collecting all the waste and scooping up all the sludge.
2.ON THE CENTRAL COAST
We have in the Macquarie and Tuggerah Lakes the largest inland lakes in Australia. And along the sea front, some of the purest beaches in the nation – until now. The fresh ocean of the Tasman Sea sends wave upon wave to our shores, swimmers, surfers, fishers and parents with children believe this area is really blessed. Tourists come from all over the world to swim here, and to walk along our pristine shores.
Until now.
Permission is being given by the State Government to Avent Gas to drill for gas off shore. The Labor Party candidates in the Federal Election and the Prime Minister have all said they have stopped the drilling and have claimed the credit. But Advent Energy has indicated that the project is starting soon after October, as no Federal permission will be issued until after the election!
Family First Candidates Gavin Brett (Dobell) and Michael Jakob (Robertson) are seeking definitive answers for the central coast when it comes to the issue of Drilling for Gas off central Coast beaches.
They are aware of what happened to a well drilled in the Gulf of Mexico.
They have asked the two Labor candidates to come clean and provide a genuine answer to the question “Will the drilling go ahead?” “What are the environmental implications?” “What is being done to safeguard the Central Coast from any harm caused by the drilling?”
Their questions have gone unanswered.
Rev The Hon Dr Gordon Moyes, A.C., M.L.C.