‘Massive hit’: Clover Moore’s City of Sydney gas ban

Clover Moore concedes City of Sydney gas ban is a load of hot air as premier Chris Minns comes under pressure to block councils from imposing unilateral energy bans.

• Gas-free utopia spells disaster

The state government is under pressure to “take control” of energy policies and block local councils from imposing unilateral bans on new gas connections.

It comes after City of Sydney councillors voted to call for a ban on gas connections, with councillors on Monday night voting to investigate how planning rules could be changed to ban new gas connections in homes and some businesses.

On Tuesday morning, Lord Mayor Ms Moore conceded the issue was ultimately out of her control.

“The state has jurisdiction, but I think what councils do is they take action to encourage state governments to do what they should do,” Ms Moore said.

She will also write to Premier Chris Minns “urging” him to develop a plan to rip gas connections out of homes and businesses.

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Lord Mayor Clover Moore voted to ban all new gas connections for homes and businesses Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

NSW Premier Chris Minns is under pressure to “take control” of energy policy. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Monique Harmer

The Liberal opposition is now calling for the Minns government to block local councils from imposing their own gas bans in defiance of the Premier.

Mr Minns has ruled out any statewide ban on gas, councils have the power to call for their own bans by imposing restrictive planning controls.

However, the state government has the power to put planning rules in place to override local councils.

“Look we have to make really hard decisions when we are dealing with global warming … we need to put the planet and the future first as far as I’m concerned and we need to think about the sort of world we are creating for our children,” Ms Moore said.

Ms Moore said putting a ban on new gas connections in the city’s development rules will be a way to “address global boiling,” declaring that the “the planet and the future” should be put ahead of businesses struggling with the cost of living crisis.

Liberal Local Government spokeswoman Wendy Tuckerman said the City of Sydney council decision lacks any regard for small business and the impacts of energy costs and transition”.

“I call on the State Government to act and take control of this madness before our state grinds to a halt,” she said.

“Gas plays an integral role in transitioning to reducing carbon emissions but it needs to be done with consideration to the costs imposed,” she said.

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the rule changes proposed by the City of Sydney would not be mandatory, but the government will “keep an eye” on further decisions.

Sydney’s peak business lobby also called for the state government to step to avoid “different rules across the state”.

The Council’s CEO will now “investigate the opportunities and challenges with amending the City of Sydney’s planning controls to require all new residential developments … to be all electric,” following a motion which passed eight votes to two.

The vote asked the Lord Mayor to “urge” the Premier to “develop a plan supported by incentives or rebates to transition homes and businesses from gas to renewable energy”.

Christie Hamilton said the motion is out of touch with the cost of living pressures people are facing. AAP Image/Danny Aarons

Waverley council banned new gas connections last year and Randwick City will consider the proposal in a meeting on Tuesday night.

“This motion says that electricity is cheaper to run meaning lower energy bills,” Randwick City Councillor Christie Hamilton told Ben Fordham on 2GB on Tuesday.

“That’s just not true, we don’t have an alternative to turn off gas for an equally priced alternative. If we did, we could do it, but we don’t.”

City of Sydney papers also note that Parramatta council has banned new connections in the city’s CBD.

“Sydney City Council should not ban gas in new homes. Any bans should be state wide,” Business Sydney CEO Paul Nicolaou said.

“This will confuse the market and create more problems. More consultation is needed with business so they can deal with any changes appropriately and are phased in,” he said.

Chef Luke Mangan has hit out at the ban.

Celebrity chef Luke Mangan said the move would be a massive hit to small businesses across the state.

“Seriously if we think of all of these small businesses around the state and around the country with cafes and wine bars and restaurants, what if they’ve put these gas cooktops in 6-12 months ago,” he told 2GB on Tuesday.

“Small businesses are under the pump already with interest rates going up, people not spending … now electricity, gas, your wages, everything has gone up and produce has gone up.

“These businesses can’t keep putting prices up to stay in business because people just don’t want to spend more at this period.”

When asked about how the decision may affect struggling small businesses, Clover Moore said that “job opportunities will change but there will be other opportunities”.

“The reality is that we have to do everything we can,” she said.

“Look we have to make really hard decisions when we are dealing with global warming … we need to put the planet and the future first as far as I’m concerned and we need to think about the sort of world we are creating for our children.

“I think everyone is dreading summer in Sydney because we could be facing the same sort of bushfires we had.”