Gas project: call for no public hearings during the pandemic

The Independent Planning Commission has confirmed that due to the strict protocols around public gatherings and ‘social distancing’, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no public hearings on the Narrabri Gas Project for the foreseeable future.

In a recent statement announcing changes to procedures, the IPC suggested that submissions may be received through options other than public meetings, via written submissions, tele or video conferencing and live streaming technologies.

However, opponents of the project have urged that the hearings be delayed until the COVID-19 pandemic crisis is over.

The IPC had been asked by the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes to conduct public hearings for three State significant developments, including the Narrabri Gas Project and the Vickery coal mine Extension Project.

“The Commission will not schedule new public meetings, and all planned public meetings will be cancelled to minimise risk to participants,” the IPC said in its statement.

“Anyone who has registered to speak at an upcoming meeting will be contacted by the Commission to advise how they can have their say.”

The Independent Planning Commission has encouraged interested individuals and groups to have their say on the gas and Vickery projects by written submission.

“Written submissions are weighted the same as spoken submissions and will be carefully considered by the Commission as part of its decision-making process,” a spokesperson said.

“The Commission will examine all options, including the use of tele- and/or video-conferencing and live-streaming technologies, holding a hearing with a strict cap on participants, adopting social distancing measures or a combination of these.

“The Commission is aware of the significant community interest in these projects and is committed to ensuring interested individuals and groups can have their say on issues important to them.

“We are also committed to ensuring these hearings are fair, open and transparent.”

Opponents of the gas project have been mobilising since last year to come to Narrabri when IPC public hearings are held.

They have demanded a delay to public hearings until the COVID-9 pandemic has passed.

“It has been suggested that a hearing could take place via the internet, but many residents in the North West who would be impacted by this project are on the wrong side of the digital divide and have too poor a web connection to take part,” said Lock the Gate Alliance NSW spokesperson Georgina Woods.

“According to the ABS, 14 per cent of households in NSW don’t even have the internet. At least 1553 people have written to Mr Stokes, urgently calling on him to delay the public hearings until the health crisis has passed.

“The Alliance believes the release of the Department of Planning’s ‘assessment report’ on the project is imminent which would trigger the need for public hearings to be held.

Georgina Woods said the Alliance had written to Mr Stokes on March 4 asking him not to proceed with public hearings, but had received no response.

Among the groups to have sent the Minister a letter is the North West Alliance, a network of community groups in North West NSW.

Mullaley farmer Margaret Fleck said it was negligent and irresponsible for Mr Stokes to direct the IPC to proceed with the hearing.

“Almost 23,000 people made submissions on this project.

“The public is simply not going to have a fair and just hearing of objections to this gasfield if the hearing takes place during this health crisis,” she said.

Member for Barwon Roy Butler, said the Independent Planning Commission assessment of the Narrabri Gas Project ‘must be put on hold’.

“The Narrabri Gas Project has been referred by the Minister for Planning to the Independent Planning Commission for determination.

“As part of this determination there is a requirement for public hearings. Due to the current ban on public gatherings how these hearings will be held is up in the air. It is my view that the Independent Planning Commission process must run its course in the mandated way – if that means the process needs to be put on hold until public hearings can be held then that’s what needs to happen.

With such a significant project as the Narrabri Gas Project, there cannot be a deviation from the mandated process. The decision that the Independent Planning Commission might make, will have long running impact on the community, no matter which way it goes.There are so many unanswered questions about the Narrabri Gas Project, the fact the project cannot be underwritten and the Chief Scientist’s recommendations haven’t been implemented are extremely concerning to me.

This all needs to be explored through a transparent, independent process that is left to run its legal course.

With Parliament suspended and the inability for public scrutiny and input – the assessment of this project must be put on hold until a democratic, transparent process can be used.