Landmark Council decision
Newcastle Greens
8 November 2006
Newcastle turns up the heat on Climate Change
In a landmark decision, Newcastle Council last night supported a cap on coal exports through the Port of Newcastle at present levels.
“For the council of the city with the world’s largest coal exporting port to have the foresight and courage to say ‘stop, no more’ to coal exports is a truly historic and momentous occasion,” Greens councillor Michael Osborne (who moved the proposal) said.
“This decision should serve as a big wake up call to both State and Federal governments to get serious about climate change and to initiate a just transition toward sustainable energy,” Cr Osborne said.
Cr Osborne said he believed that Newcastle’s historic initiative might be taken up by other councils, and could have state, national and even international implications.
“I’m very pleased that most Newcastle councillors recognised the urgent need to protect local and global environments from increasing greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce Newcastle’s role in that increase.
“It’s especially significant at a time when the State Government is considering a major expansion of the Hunter coal industry, including massive new coal loading infrastructure and a new mine, and when the Federal Government is under increasing public pressure to catch up on climate change policy.
“Newcastle is in a unique position in this crucial issue.
“Nobody is closer to the coalface of this industry than the people of the Hunter, so the fact that the government of the region’s major city is prepared to support no expansion of coal exports through the port is a huge statement that should send a clear message to State and Federal governments about how serious Australians now are about facing up to the challenge of climate change,” Cr Osborne said.
As well as backing the cap on Newcastle’s coal exports at existing levels, the council also supported holding an inquiry into coal mining, a coal export levy, mandatory renewable energy targets, and improved public transport and cycling infrastructure.
Cr Osborne said that the much discussed Stern Report showed that each tonne of coal exported through Newcastle causes $264 of environmental and social damage – a fraction of the amount that we get for selling it.
“The local voice is now loud and clear. The ball is now very much in the court of the State and Federal governments to act,” Cr Osborne said.
The full text of the Council motion can be found on this site
and the background to the motion can be found and
on the Newcastle Council website.
