The Marulan gas proposal must be scrapped

29 May 2025

Today Abigail read out a motion in Parliament calling out the disastrous proposal for a massive 800-megawatt (MW) Marulan gas-fired power station in the NSW Southern Highlands.

Abigail said:

(1) That this House notes that:

(a) on 26 October 2024, the NSW Labor Government approved a further two year extension of the lapse dates until 26 October 2026 for EnergyAustralia’s proposed Marulan Gas-Fired Power Station, after having already approved a five year extension in 2019,

(b) this recent extension was granted without any public exhibition or opportunity for community consultation, without an updated assessment of the contemporary environmental, social and economic impacts, and without giving direct notification to the surrounding community,

(c) nearby residents have consistently objected to the Marulan Gas Station proposal since it was first proposed and then approved by the Government nearly two decades ago in 2009; and the community has overwhelmingly backed renewable energy such as solar and battery storage systems over destructive fossil fuel developments,

(d) in September last year, Goulburn Mulwaree Council’s former chief executive Aaron Johansson wrote to Planning NSW raising concerns about EnergyAustralia keeping council and the public in the dark, asserting that EnergyAustralia should not be allowed to use continual modification rules to prolong the consent and keep the door open for investors,

(e) the proposed site for the Marulan project is located on the traditional lands of Gundungurra people, approximately 12 kilometres north-east of Marulan and approximately 25 kilometres east of Goulburn within the Upper Lachlan and Goulburn-Mulwaree local government areas,

(f) clearing the land and developing infrastructure will disturb 22 hectares of high conservation woodlands, which is currently home to rare and endangered animals such as the rare eastern false pipistrelle vesper bat, diamond firetail finch and hooded robin, as well as native vegetation including box gum woodland which is now classified as critically endangered.

(g) the proposed site is also in close proximity to the Wollondilly River, which poses serious risks of contamination to Sydney’s water catchment,

(h) since 2009, there have been significant changes and adaptations to the area surrounding the proposed site, including the construction of 45 additional dwellings within approximately 1.5 kilometres and 5 kilometres from the proposed site, and during this time, there have also been significant changes in the state’s energy mix, with renewables now accounting for around 53 per cent of our total generation capacity, and

(i) not only is waving through new gas developments environmentally reckless, but fuelling our over-reliance on gas will create huge risks and challenges for our energy transition, gas has
a shrinking and short-term role to play in Australia's energy mix, and we don't need more of it.

(2) That this House affirms that there is no room for new gas projects in a world safe from climate catastrophe.

(3) That this House calls on the Government to:

(a) commit to requiring that EnergyAustralia conduct a minimum 30 day public exhibition of its updated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) including at least one public information session, and give direct written notice to residents within one kilometre of the proposed project,

(b) place an immediate moratorium on all new coal and gas projects, and

PUBLIC ENERGY FOR PUBLIC GOOD - SIGN THE PETITION!

Electricity is an essential service. But Labor and Liberal governments have sold off NSW’s energy assets and infrastructure, leaving us at the mercy of the private sector for our energy needs. The result has been soaring energy bills, with more and more people being forced into energy poverty.

A privatised energy system will never deliver a cheap and clean energy network - It’s time to take the power back.

As we transition to 100% renewable energy, we must learn from the mistakes of privatisation, ensure our energy assets are kept in public hands, and rein in the actions of private operators.

Communities across NSW have for too long been at the mercy of privatised power network operators who continue to put profit above people, acting recklessly and cutting corners without regard for community expectations.

Recent catastrophic power outages in regional NSW have made headlines for just this - in Broken Hill, the state’s only 100% privatised transmission network operator has failed to deliver a safe and secure energy network, leaving communities in the dark because of mismanagement and neglect in the pursuit of profit.

To build our case for bringing electricity back into public ownership, the Greens are calling for a public parliamentary inquiry into all NSW power network operators, their operation and corporate decision-making practices.

Add your name now to support the campaign!

While you're here, want a free sticker? Click this link to grab yours now!

Will you sign?

First Name

Last Name

Mobile phone

Address (Street, Suburb, State, Postcode)

Country

I want to volunteer

Join with Facebook

Join with Twitter

The Marulan gas proposal must be scrapped

PUBLIC ENERGY FOR PUBLIC GOOD - SIGN THE PETITION!

Will you sign?

Join the Campaign

Join 58,100 other supporters in taking action