City of Sydney votes to ban all new homes from gas connection

Clover Moore City Council has voted to ban gas for all new homes and businesses.

The motion passed the council on Monday night, with eight out of ten council members backing the ban.

The move will introduce clauses into rule development that will require new homes and businesses to install electrical appliances such as ovens, cooktops, heaters and water heaters.

The City of Sydney became the latest councilor to vote to ban new gas connections, despite NSW Prime Minister Chris Minns ruling out a nationwide gas ban last month.

Deputy Mayor and Councilwoman for the Greens, Sylvie Ellsmore, pushed for the ban. Council papers said the gas ban was “based on the health, economic and environmental benefits that all-electric buildings will bring to future residents.”

Clover Moore City Council in Sydney on Monday night passed a bill banning gas connection in new homes and businesses. Eight out of ten city councilors voted in favor of the ban

Waverly and Parramatta City Councils have backed the ban, while Randwick City Council will vote on Tuesday night on a motion to implement the ban nationwide.

Sydney’s top business lobby is calling on the state government to block local councils from imposing the ban to avoid “differing rules across the state”.

Sydney City Council also wants to force households and businesses to ditch the gas they already have in favor of electricity.

Council papers urge staff to consider “other possible changes”. This would ease or accelerate the transition of existing residential and non-residential buildings in the city of Sydney to all-electric and gas-free buildings.

Under the EPA Act of 1979, city councils have the power to implement their own bans by setting conditions for development applications, although the Minns government claims it will not implement a statewide gas ban.

Randwick Council Liberal Councilwoman Christie Hamilton told 2GB presenter Ben Fordham on Tuesday the plan to ban petrol was “nonsense”.

“I think that’s nonsense, it has so little to do with the cost of living pressures that everyone is feeling at the moment,” Ms Hamilton said.

“This motion states that electricity is cheaper to run, resulting in lower energy bills.” That’s just not true.

“We have no alternative to replace the gas consumption with an alternative of the same price. If we did, we could do it, but we don’t do it.”

Sydney City Council also wants to force households and businesses to forego the gas they already have in favor of electricity (pictured: Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore)

Ms Hamilton, who has been a member of Randwick City Council since 2017, said the gas issue had been “bubbling up in the background” but would come to the fore during the council meeting.

Randwick Council will not vote to ban gas for new developments or introduce planning control measures in Randwick Council.

Rather, councilors will vote to submit a motion to the annual NSW local government conference to ask the state government to ban gas across the state.

Ms Hamilton said she will argue against the motion because it affects all Australians.

“I will argue against it.” [motion]”I find it very off-putting to Randwick residents, rate payers and renters, it affects everyone,” Ms Hamilton said.

She urged Prime Minister Chris Minns to take account of NSW residents who are struggling with the cost of living.

“Chris Minns needs to think about what he needs to do for the people of New South Wales and I think given how expensive it is to live at the moment and how the bills are already going through the roof, we should now don’t do it,” Ms. Hamilton said.