Cr Tim Koschel took to social media while using a gas stove to protest against a petition calling for new residential subdivisions to proceed without reticulated gas. Photo: Supplied.
Wagga Wagga councillor Tim Koschel has criticised a fellow councillor and a push to phase out the use of gas in new Wagga dwellings, after a community petition by the group Climate Petition of Wagga Inc signed by 198 people was presented to council last week.
The petition requests that the council consider allowing new residential subdivisions to proceed without reticulated gas. It follows a 2023 Notice of Motion presented to council by Greens’ Cr Jenny McKinnon asking council staff to prepare a report about the potential for the Council to put a stop to gas connections on new dwellings.
Environmentalists have argued that, because gas is a fossil fuel, replacing gas-fired homes with all-electric homes will help reduce emissions. The Victorian Government banned gas connections in new homes in its state in 2024.
The new petition has reignited the debate, with the council electing to receive a report on the potential benefits of a possible gas ban in new dwellings, much to the disapproval of Cr Koschel.
“We don’t need the report, I don’t need to see it and we shouldn’t be doing it,” Cr Koschel protested during last week’s Ordinary Council Meeting.
“Thank you to the staff that are going to take the time to write the report, but I think I’ve already made my mind up before reading [the report] because that’s where I’ll stand and I won’t be supporting it.”
Cr Koschel took to social media to continue his push in opposing the report, starting a petition of his own protesting against the ban and calling for anyone who agrees to sign.
“Enjoy cooking with gas? So do I,” Cr Koschel said.
“Unfortunately, after 198 signatures, it could be turned off just like that. Councillor Jenny McKinnon from the Greens tried to shuffle it through in 2023 with zero support, it didn’t even get a seconder.
“Now, surprise, surprise, the same thing’s come back again through a petition, it’s going to receive a report back to council.
“We need to stand up as a community and show the gas is our right and it’s our choice and it’s not the choice of the activists of Wagga.”
Cr McKinnon expressed her disappointment with Cr Koschel’s decision to ignore the report, hoping that the seven other councillors would deliver a fair and rational debate after reading the document and before making their decision.
“I certainly hope that every councillor will make a rational decision,” Cr McKinnon said.
“I’m also aware that at that last meeting, a councillor made a comment basically stating that science is just an opinion.
“I don’t know what the council report is going to bring out, but even though that might happen, not everybody makes their decisions rationally. So I just hope that other councillors will give this a very sensible hearing.”
CORRECTION: The original version of the article incorrectly stated that the petition to council was initiated by the Greens Party and that Cr McKinnon called for a ban on gas on new home. This has been corrected to state the group Climate Petition of Wagga Inc initiated the petition and that Cr McKinnon’s motion was to ask council staff to prepare a report about the potential for the Council to put a stop to gas connections on new dwellings.
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