PEOPLE across the Illawarra will come together on Sunday to hear from experts – on hydrology, jobs and economy, legal rights, the local approvals – learn practical skills and map out the way forward for the campaign to stop coal seam gas (CSG) in the Illawarra.

CSG exploration licences extend from the Royal National Park in the north to Sanctuary Point in the South. Drilling approvals have been granted in and around the drinking water catchment by the previous and current NSW Government.

Stop CSG Illawarra spokesperson Jess Moore said the community has – so far – halted the plan to develop a gas field in our drinking water catchment.

“CSG poses enormous risks to water, food, communities and the environment. Toxic leaks are happening and the Government is not stopping it,” Ms Moore said.

State MP for Keira Ryan Park is urging all residents to continue their fight and attend the coal seam gas community conference being held in Wollongong Town Hall on Sunday.

“The community has shown enormous concern about the effects of coal seam gas mining, you can’t ignore over 20,000 signatures on a petition. For the Liberal Government to shut down a debate on this matter is the height of their arrogance” Mr Park said.

“They think they can do what they want and answer to no one. This community expects better. They voted for this Government who promised to “govern for all’ and we are seeing the exact opposite.

“The NSW Opposition has changed their policy on this industry because we listened to the community. It’s a shame the Premier and his Minister are unwilling to do the same thing.

“This Sunday there is a community conference being held at Wollongong Town Hall and I am urging all residents to come along and show the Government that they will not accept being ignored and that they will continue this fight” Mr Park said.

The conference will be opened by the Lord Mayor of Wollongong Gordon Bradbery at the Wollongong Town Hall at 10.30am on Sunday.