Gas ban proposed by ‘left-wing, woke councillors’ won’t ignite

Virtue signalling local councils are wasting ratepayers time and money by trying to impose bans on new gas connections which would ultimately be thrown out if taken to court. Find out why.

The state government ultimately has the final say.

Virtue signalling local councils are wasting ratepayers time and money by trying to impose bans on new gas connections which would ultimately be thrown out if taken to court.

The City of Sydney became the latest council to call for a ban on gas cooktops on Monday, while also voting to pursue ways to force existing buildings to become gas-free.

Premier Chris Minns is now under pressure to block councils from trying to find workarounds impose unilateral energy bans which would only clog up the courts.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s City of Sydney on Monday night voted to investigate how it could impose new planning rules banning gas connections from new developments.

While councils can set their own planning rules, attempts to block a new development for using gas would almost certainly be overturned if the applicant challenges in court.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore doesn’t want gas in her patch. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

That threatens to tie up developers in legal challenges if they want to include gas connections in their buildings.

Waverley Council last year moved to ban new gas cooktops, ovens, and heaters on the basis of indoor air quality.

When considering a similar ban, Randwick Council was warned that it would ultimately be unenforceable.

Ms Moore yesterday conceded that banning new developments from using gas was out of her jurisdiction, but said councils can take action to force the state government’s hands.

She said banning new gas connections would 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.

But that led to warnings that banning gas from buildings would actually increase emissions in the short term.

NSW’s largest gas distributor Jemena yesterday warned that “accelerated electrification in the short-term will also have the unintended consequence of actually increasing Australia’s emissions profile, while reducing customer choice, and undermining system reliability”.

Cook Ashim Bakhunchhe whips up a feed on a gas stove at Kickin’Inn at Zetland. Picture: David Swift

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.

Planning Minister Paul Scully said that any attempts from the City of Sydney to stop new developments using gas would not be “mandatory”.

“We will be watching closely should a small commercial provider be detrimentally affected by a council decision,” he said.

Master Plumbers Association of NSW CEO Nathaniel Smith said “left-wing ideologically driven woke councillors” hadn’t thought through the consequences of their plans.

Mr Smith said 60-storey residential towers for 1000 people would require “floors of plant rooms” for heat pumps.

The City of Sydney on Monday voted to “urge” Premier Chris Minns to incentivise businesses to switch from gas to electric.

Kickin’In restaurant chain Founder and CEO Ravi Singh said that would cost him millions of dollars, force customers to wait longer for their food, and make service worse.

“We are looking at millions of dollars having to be spent on making sure our kitchen meets the electrical compliances which is not fair,” he said.