SYDNEY, March 15 (Xinhua) -- New legislation has been approved by parliament in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) to ban offshore drilling and mining in a bid to protect beaches and the coastal environment.
The state government announced on Friday that the bill secured support from across the parliament, making NSW "the first state in Australia to prohibit seabed petroleum and mineral exploration and mining."
Under the newly amended regulation, exploration and recovery of seabed petroleum and minerals in NSW coastal waters will be outlawed. Other development within the state for the purposes of seabed petroleum and mineral exploration and recovery anywhere will also be prohibited.
But the ban exempts coastal protection works, including beach nourishment and beach scraping, which can strengthen beaches, dunes, and cliff systems from erosion.
Without involving mineral exploration or recovery, certain dredging activities like laying pipelines or submarine cables will also continue, as they are required as routine practice for environmental and economic benefits.
"The damage from seabed exploration and mining is significant. It threatens our state's sensitive marine environments, coastal areas, and Indigenous heritage," said Penny Sharpe, NSW minister for climate change and energy.
"With broad support, the NSW labor government has taken a responsible and balanced approach to banning seabed mining and protecting our marine environment into the future," Sharpe added. ■
