Major Sydney Council’s Move to Ban Residential Gas Puts Pressure on NSW Government

Flames from a gas burner on a cooker are pictured in a private home in this illustration picture taken on June 27, 2022. (Stephane Mahe/Illustration/Reuters)

A surprise motion to start a residential gas ban passed by a city council in Sydney could prompt other parts of New South Wales (NSW) to follow suit, effectively undermining the state government’s energy policy and affecting the lives of thousands.

The City of Sydney Council has made headlines after it initiated a vote on a motion (pdf) to investigate the possibility of requiring all new home and business developments in the council area to exclude gas connections on Aug. 21, which contradicts the NSW government’s direction.

The motion cited health and environmental risks associated with using gas for heating and cooking and its high costs as the main reasons for the ban.

It was reported that the motion passed with the support of eight out of ten councillors, enabling an investigation process into the council’s planning controls.

If the council manages to enact a residential gas ban by updating relevant planning rules following the investigation, over 210,000 residents in Sydney’s central business district and surrounding inner-city suburbs will be affected.

Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney Clover Moore, who was “proud” to support the motion, said there was an urgent need to lower carbon emissions.

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“We are in a climate emergency,” she said in a social media post.

“The dangerous wildfires tearing across Europe and North America are a frightening indication of what we might expect in our own backyard this summer.

“The City of Sydney is committed to net zero emissions in our area by 2035–reducing fossil fuel use in our area is a key part of this.”

Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney, speaks during the Sydney Lunar Festival Media Launch in Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 9, 2021. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

The motion will also request the lord mayor write to NSW Premier Chris Minns about developing a plan to help homes and businesses transition from gas to renewable energy via rebates.

“I have advocated for and would welcome a statewide mandate on banning gas connections by the NSW government, as has been done in Victoria,” Ms. Moore said.

“Until that happens, we’re looking at other ways we can electrify residential homes and reduce new gas connections within the City of Sydney.”

The motion was well received by climate advocacy groups, including 350 Australia, which said the move was a win for the environment.

New Motion Contradicts NSW Government’s Stance

The City of Sydney’s move completely went against the NSW government’s direction on residential gas usage.

Victoria introduced a total gas ban on new residential homes in July from Jan. 1, 2024.

Later, Mr. Minns announced that his state would not follow Victoria’s steps.

In making the decision, the premier said NSW was in a different circumstance from Victoria as the gas sector did not contribute much to the state’s emissions.

“Only seven percent of emissions in NSW are as a result of gas. Victoria has double the amount of emissions as a result of gas that NSW does,” he said.

Mr. Minns also pointed out that his government did not want to worsen the energy crisis in the state by introducing another policy change.

“We’re facing a situation where we need gas for the industry. We’ve also got baseload power that’s coming off in the next few years and not enough renewables coming into the system,” he said.

Following the City of Sydney’s motion, a spokesperson of the NSW Department of Planning and Environment reaffirmed the state government’s stance.

“NSW is not proposing to progress a ban of gas connections to new developments,” the spokesperson told The Epoch Times.

Other Councils May Follow Suit

While the NSW government has the final say on the issue of a total gas ban, the City of Sydney’s motion may cause other parts of the state to come up with similar proposals.

Currently, the Waverley Council is banning indoor gas appliances in new residential development, while the Parramatta Council requires all new residential and non-residential developments in its city centre to be electric.

A chef prepares steak for patrons at the Hartsyard restaurant in Sydney, Australia, on June. 5, 2020. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the Randwick Council voted on a motion on the night of Aug. 22 to call on the NSW government to ban gas across all local councils at the upcoming state’s annual conference.

Christie Hamilton, a Randwick councillor, rejected a total gas ban in the state, saying it was out of touch with the cost of living pressures.

“The fact is, electricity is double the price of gas. And what I find is really upsetting for myself as a resident and also for anyone else who is impacted by these decisions is misinformation,” she told 2GB Radio.

“So this motion says that electricity is cheaper to run, meaning lower energy bills.

“That’s just not true. We don’t have an alternative to turn off gas for an equally priced alternative.”

While the NSW opposition opposed a statewide gas ban, it believed that any measures needed to be introduced by the state government instead of each council coming up with their own ideas.

“It’s inconsistent to have one side of the street where you’ve got a gas ban and the other side of the street where there’s no gas ban, so the government should be looking at a consistent approach,” he said.