News

| September 04, 2015

Kealy gets gas enquiry into Hamilton

Emma Kealy, Nationals Member for Lowan says common sense has prevailed with the Parliamentary Inquiry into Onshore Unconventional Gas holding a hearing in Hamilton later this month.

The Environment and Planning Committee announced today that a hearing will be held in Hamilton on 23 September 2015. A time and venue has not yet been confirmed.

The Committee has received over 1,700 written submissions, and to date has heard from 57 groups and individuals.

“I have been calling for the Parliamentary inquiry to hold a hearing in Hamilton and to hear directly from people who are most likely to be affected,” Ms Kealy said.

“It is so important that the views of the Lowan electorate were not ignored and I was not going to stand by and see residents and landholders from this area not have their voices heard.

“I have heard first hand from many residents who are very concerned about what onshore unconventional gas would have on the local environment, water reserves and in particular the prime agricultural land and do not want to see any gas activity in the area.

“I urge residents and landholder to attend the hearing in Hamilton on 23 September 2015.

“The Nationals’ position regarding on-shore gas is very clear. We will never support any mining activity that risks harm to our agricultural land, water supplies or environment. If an industry does develop we believe landholders deserve the right to say no to mining activity on their land.

“Victoria’s agricultural industries are the lifeblood of our rural communities and are too valuable to jeopardise,” she said.

This week the Committee has tabled an interim report in the Legislative Council about the inquiry into unconventional gas in Victoria. The Committee is required to table its final report by 1 December 2015.