This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE City of Sydney is the latest council to support a ban on gas in new buildings, defying the premiers vision for the future of energy in NSW.
With support of eight out of 10 councillors, the City of Sydney council passed a potion to begin the process to require all new builds across the city to be all-electric and gas-free, including new homes, apartments and businesses.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore is also set to write to the Premier, Chris Minns, to request incentives or rebates for the transition to renewable energy.
“The City would welcome a state-wide mandate on banning gas connections by the NSW Government, as has been done in Victoria. Until this happens, we’re looking at other ways we can electrify residential homes and reduce new gas connections within the City of Sydney,” said a spokesperson for the council.
“This would build on our Net Zero Performance planning controls for new offices, shopping centres and hotels.”
“At Council last night it was resolved that staff would investigate additional options to reduce gas use, including changes to planning rules.”
While the councils of Waverley and Parramatta have also voted in support of such bans, Minns recently said that a statewide ban as seen in Victoria and the ACT would not come into play in NSW.
“Gas is a potent, fossil fuel that is accelerating the intersecting human and ecological crises caused by a heating planet. We need to end the age of fossil fuels now and we can start by eliminating toxic methane gas from our homes, shops and businesses,” said Lucy Manne, CEO at 350 Australia,
“Only developers and gas corporations benefit from keeping our homes and businesses connected to gas. We congratulate the City of Sydney for taking bold climate leadership and taking action where the state government is falling behind.”
There is currently no timeline for the implementation of a gas ban for the City of Sydney.
