Queanbeyan’s gas supply is safe as councillors declined to second a motion by Greens councillor Katrina Willis. Photo: beaer_photo.
A Greens councillor’s motion to phase out gas in Queanbeyan-Palerang has failed to win any support.
The motion came just days after the City of Sydney Council voted unanimously to ban the installation of gas in new residential properties in a major win for campaigners against the fossil fuel.
In Queanbeyan the motion was moved by Councillor Katrina Willis, but it lapsed when she couldn’t persuade any councillors to second it.
The proposal put forward that the council would require the electrification of all new residential developments or those undergoing major renovations and that it commission a feasibility report on phasing out gas for commercial projects.
“Across the world, gas appliances are being phased out of the residential and commercial building stock,” Cr Willis wrote in her motion.
“This is not due to political or philosophical reasons, but to the volumes of evidence that demonstrate that all-electric buildings are better for our health, save money on energy bills, and cut climate pollution.”
Cr Willis said phasing out gas would benefit the health of locals and ease cost-of-living pressures for the region.
After the motion failed to progress Cr Willis moved a second motion regarding a loan program to aid properties in switching to electric, which was carried by the council.
Three other motions were raised at council regarding loans to electrify homes, writing to the NSW Environment Minister about reducing landfill waste, and writing to the Minister for Transport to request a commitment to reinstate the NSW TrainLink Discovery Pass.
All three were passed.
The failed motion comes on the heels of a controversial proposed ban on wood fire heaters that council voted down in May after heavy public opposition.
Council backed down after hundreds of submissions opposed the move. Cr Willis had spoken strongly in favour of the ban.
The potential phasing out of gas has been a long-running and controversial topic in Australia.
Canberra banned new gas installations in 2023 and plans to phase out natural gas entirely by 2045.
