Sydney moves to ban gas, as councils go where NSW Labor fears to tread

The City of Sydney has voted to go where the New South Wales state Labor government so far fears to tread, and make changes to local government planning rules to ban gas connections in new homes and businesses.

The council on Monday agreed to insert new clauses into the council’s planning rules to require new homes and businesses, including apartments, to include all-electric appliances like stoves, cooktops, heaters and hot water units, instead of gas ones.

The motion was moved by councillor Emelda David in response to the “Electrify Your Council” campaign led by 350 Australia, which calls on local governments to use their “unique planning powers” to lead the state in ditching residential gas.

The local government push in NSW follows comments from state Labor premier Chris Minns suggesting that a residential gas ban is not on his government’s agenda, any time soon.

“The challenges in energy are serious in NSW,” Labor premier Chris Minns told Sydney radio station 2GB last month.

“I don’t need another complication or another policy change when the challenges ahead of us are so serious.”

By contrast, Victoria’s state Labor government last month followed the ACT’s lead and announced that new homes and residential subdivisions in the state would only be allowed to connect to all electric networks, starting in 2024.

Already, a number of NSW local government councils are taking up 350 Australia’s challenge, with Sydney just the latest and perhaps highest profile, so far.

Read which NSW councils are moving to ban gas on RenewEconomy’s electrification sub-site SwitchedOn, here.

Certainly, the announcement of Sydney’s intentions to ban gas in new homes has captured the attention of the fossil fuel lobby.

“The APGA is disappointed with the City of Sydney’s decision to ban gas connections in new buildings,” said Australian Pipelines and Gas Association CEO Steve Davies in a statement on Tuesday.

“If the City of Sydney is truly focused on accelerating the transition by reducing emissions, it should be talking about getting more renewable gas into the system.”

Read which NSW councils are moving to ban gas – and more stories on electrification – on RenewEconomy’s sub-site SwitchedOn, here.