Great Artesian Basin Protection Group
The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) provides the only reliable source of fresh water throughout much of inland Australia, underlying 22% of the continent. It is the largest and deepest artesian basin in the world – and in the world’s driest inhabited continent.
For over a century the GAB has supplied vital water for communities, stock and industry. In that time we have extracted over 100 times the volume of Sydney Harbour – and over 90% of that was wasted. Through flawed government policy, landholders squandered this finite water, as they were told it would be recharged from rainwater, which scientists now know will take millions of years.
The GAB is being destroyed by two things. Firstly, by the incredible wastage from the thousands of uncapped bores; but principally by the enormous water usage by the mining and coal seam gas industries, which are depleting and polluting the stressed GAB even further.
The GABPG is determined to save this priceless and finite resource for future generations of Australians, before it is too late. This could be achieved by increasing govt. assistance for capping bores, and by placing a moratorium on the CSG industry until it can be proven it will not destroy the GAB.
Please show your support by joining the GABPG – and please leave your comments on Your Say.
In the Media
Great Artesian Basin coal-seam gas ‘risk’
The Australian, 7 November 2014
The Frack Files
Danny Chivers, New Internationalist magazine, December 2013
Groundbreaking Report Calculates Damage Done by Fracking
Ecowatch.com, 3.10.13
Harvard fracking study rings methane alarm bells in Australia
Peter Hannam, SMH, 27.11.13
Bridge Out: Bombshell Study Finds Methane Emissions From Natural Gas Production Far Higher Than EPA Estimates
Joe Romm, Think Progress, 25.11.13
Crude Solution
60 Minutes, Channel Nine, 15.08.13
Alan Jones interviews Dr Richard Denniss
Alan Jones Breakfast Show, 2GB, 5.7.13
Alan Jones interviews Barry O’Farrell
The Alan Jones Breakfast Show, 2GB, 20.06.13
Alan Jones and guests discuss CSG and Offshore Petroleum Act
The Alan Jones Breakfast Show, 2GB, 19.06.13
Alan Jones interviews Tom Marland (Qld lawyer)
The Alan Jones Breakfast Show, 2GB Radio, 19.06.13
Cotton growers voice concerns over CSG
ABC TV, 7.30 New South Wales, 21.06.13
Test your bores, landholders in gas fields advised
James Nason, Beef Central (online publication), 21.06.13
Water Contamination from Fracking: Jessica Ernst Releases Groundbreaking Report
Damien Gillis, TheCanadian.org, 20.06.13
Well of Truth
GetUp and Aquarius Productions - filmmaker Richard Todd
Mining’s contribution / Water a priority
Gloucester Advocate, Dr Richard Denniss and John Ross - 1.05.13
Is the coal industry economically worthless?
Renew Economy (online publication), 1.5.13
More risks than benefits in CSG
Australian Financial Review, 4.4.13
Risky Business
Aljazeera TV 11.1.13
Meet the Frackers
ABC TV, Foreign Correspondent, 28.2.12
LNP elder calls for investigation of CSG whistleblower claims
ABC National Radio, AM Program with Tony Eastley, 2.4.13
Alan Jones discussing “Gas Leak!”
2GB Radio, 2.4.13
Four Corners – “Gas Leak!”
ABC TV, Four Corners, 1.4.13
Gas Drillers bring in the Heavy Hitters
New Matilda - 6.2.2012 - Calliste Weitenberg.
Energy use sucking up a precious resource
SMH - Paul Sheehan - 9.1.2012
The Coal Seam Gas Rush
ABC News Online - 13.1.2012
CSG company failed to report saline spill
ABC TV - 7pm News - 13.1.2012
Katter’s Qld leader joins CSG protest
Ch.Nine News - 13.1.12
‘Fountains’ of methane 1,000m across erupt from Arctic ice
Daily Mail (U.K.) Online - 13.12.2011
Media Release from Lock the Gate Walgett
Media Release - Lock the Gate Walgett
‘Corruption’ alluded to at CSG hearing
Southern Highland News - 12.12.2011
Doco reveals farmers’ coal fight
ABC TV NEWS - 17.11.2011
State opposition talk tough on CSG
The Land - 17.11.2011
US implicates fracking in pollution
Aust. Financial Review (AAP) - 9.12.2011
Warning on CSG impact ‘ignored’: report
The Australian - 2.12.2011
Resources veteran takes aim at CSG ‘cowboys’
The Australian - Anthony Klan - 5.12.2011
Coal-seam gas boom puts pressure on governments
The Australian - Editorial - 2.12.2011
Gas projects left under a cloud
The Australian - 2.12.2011
Concern builds over chemicals left behind
The Australian - Anthony Klan - 2.12.2011
Serious errors made in CSG: Heffernan
ABC TV - Lateline Business - 30.11.2011
CSG explorer takes blind NSW farmer to court
AFR - Financial Review - 29.11.2011
Government shuts down parliament to avoid Coal Seam Gas Moratorium Bill Vote
Media Release - Jeremy Buckingham (Greens) - 28.11.2011
Dirty Money – Matthew Benns
ABC Brisbane - Evenings with Steve Austin - 24.11.2011
Bill calls for moratorium on CSG mining in NSW
Alan Jones - 2GB radio - 24.11.2011
Report finds CSG water dumped in Qld river
Australian Financial Review - 24.11.11
The seam old story springs a leak
SMH - Paddy Manning - 19.11.2011
Quest for coal
Today Tonight - Channel 7 news
Win for gas blockade as Santos pulls back
SMH - Ben Cubby - 15.11.2011
Underground “Fossil Water” Running Out
National Geographic News - 6.5.10
Alan Jones speaks to Senator Bill Heffernan about coal seam gas mining
Radio 2GB - Alan Jones - 11.11.2011
Grappling with science and sceptics
SMH - Ben Cubby - 12.11.2011
Test Drilling For Gas Worries Mid West Residents
ABC TV - 7.30 W.A. - 12.11.2011
CSG makes Lib ‘a radical activist’
The Australian - Paul Cleary - 7.11.2011
Great Barrier Grief
ABC TV - Four Corners - 7.11.2011
Alan Jones speaks to Gundi Royle about coal seam gas.
Radio 2GB - Alan Jones - 4.11.2011
Energy analyst turns up heat on new gas projects
SMH - Paddy Manning - 28.10.2011
Landowners undermined by companies
ABC TV - 7.30 NSW - 4.11.2011
No royalties for five years
The Singleton Argus - 4.11.2011
English tremors blamed on fracking
Sydney Morning Herald - 3.11.2011
Chris Hartcher on mining on farm land
Alan Jones - 2GB radio
Thousands rally against CSG mining
ABC radio Sydney - 16.10.2011
Keep the gas in the bag
SMH - editorial - 14.10.2011
Land users shout loud against ‘legalised theft’ by miners
SMH - 13.10.2011
Alan Jones steps on the gas at Gunnedah forum
Northern Daily Leader - 13.10.2011
Benefits of switch to CSG may not be all they seem
SMH - Paddy Manning - 8.10.2011
Australia is selling off its inheritance, says James Dines
Herald Sun - 30.9.2011
Protecting our farmland
Alan Jones, on radio 2GB - 5.10.2011
Coal approval at what price?
Newcastle Herald - 7.10.2011
Coal seam gas will be ‘essential’ for NSW
SMH - Ben Cubby - 6.10.2011
CSG can’t possibly win farmers’ hearts and minds
North Queensland Register - 29.9.2011
Count on resource boom, but not all its benefits
The Australian - 28.9.2011
Gas Inquiry Hears Widespread Concern
New Matilda - 26.9.2011
Is coal-seam gas worth the risk?
The Australian - 24.9.2011
Mining on farm land
Alan Jones - 2GB radio - 23.9.2011
Coal Seam Gas traumatising farmers
ABC Country Hour - 22.9.2011
Coal seam gas sucks up water
Newcastle Herald - 22.9.11
Talk of no toxicity case
Daily Telegraph - Tracy Spicer - 20.9.11
Oil, gas licences ignite demands for overhaul
SMH - 19.9.2011
Coal seam gas mining story on 7 News
2GB radio - Alan Jones
Coal seam gas under renewed pressure
Lateline - ABC TV - 29.8.2011
Carcinogens found in CSG project
SMH - 28.8.2011
Coal seam gas moratorium support
Prime 7 TV News - 26.8.11
Palmer blasts ‘poisonous’ coal seam gas industry
ABC News - 28.8.2011
Protesters gatecrash mining conference
ABC TV NEWS - 18.8.2011
Put brakes on CSG, Windsor urges
news.com.au - 17.8.2011
Heffernan calls for no-go farmland zones
The Land (and AFR) - 16.8.2011
Alan Jones comments on protecting our land
Alan Jones on 2BG radio - 15.8.2011
Debate rages over coal seam gas plans
ABC radio - AM - 2.8.2011
Landholders unite against coal seam gas companies
Financial Review
The cold hard fracks
Sydney Morning Herald - Olivia Newton-John - 31.7.2011
CSG mining causes cancer, experts warn
SMH - 18.7.2011 - Petrina Berry
Rural inhabitants up in arms over wanton destruction
The Australian - Heather Brown - 16.7.2011
Fresh food for rural discontent
The Australian - Graham Lloyd, Enviroment Editor - 9.7.2011
Era of the ‘blackboot’ brigade
The Sunday Courier Mail - Daryl Passmore - 6.3.2011
The impact of coal mining in Queensland
Alan Jones, 2GB radio - 16.6.2011
Fertile plains under frack attack
Sydney Morning Herald - Leonie Lamont - 18.6.2011
Group plans to fight mining exploration
ABC TV news - Saturday, June 11, 2011
Greens and farmers fight mining land grab
The Australian - Heather Brown - 28.5.2011
Gates shut in the gas lands
The Australian - 28.5.2011 - Graham Lloyd (Environment Editor)
EPA investigates coal seam gas leak in Sydney
ABC TV news - 27.5.2011
Fracking’s toxic recipe
Business Spectator - Barry Estabrook, Salon.com 20.5.2011
Australia’s agriculture under threat from mining
Radio 2GB - Alan Jones, 20.4.2011
Coal seam gas: a sleight of hand?
Dr Shearman - ABC - The Drum, Opinion
Mine Threat to Artesian Basin
The Australian - Asa Wahlquist
Coal seam groundwater concerns
ABC Environment 22.03.2011
Get this right or we all lose
Queensland Country Life - 10.03.2011 - Letter from Anne Bridle
Gas seam mining
ABC radio - Mornings, with Angela Owen 10.03.2011
Four Corners – The Gas Rush
ABC TV - 'Four Corners' - 21.2.2011 Reporter - Matthew Carney
Coal seam gas report points to chemicals ban
SMH - Business Day - Alexandra Smith - 3.2.2011
Not enough known on CSG: experts
Queensland Country Life - 8.1.2011 (Bronwyn Farr)
Media release from Drew Hutton
Flood waters creating massive pollution from mine sites across Queensland
Fracking for coal gas is a health hazard
Doctors for the Environment Australia - 2.12.2010 article by David Shearman
Federal cave-in on gas restrictions
Courier Mail - 3.12.2010
Peak body warning on CSG
Sydney Morning Herald - 3.12.2010
CSG plans approved despite red flag
Queensland Country Life, 23.11.2010
Land use fury takes another steep turn
Queensland Country Life - 18.11.2010
Concerns over Queensland’s coal seam gas project
Cathy Van Extel, ABC Radio National, 4th November 2010
Methane danger in CSG, scientist says
Brisbane Times, 10.08.2010
Downs farmers challenge CSG water claims
Queensland Country Life
60 Minutes – “Undermined”
Ch. 9 - 14/5/2010
The greatest environmental threat?
ABC interview re coal seam gas - on 19/4/2010
Xenophon concerned about Artesian Basin
Timothy McDonald, ABC World Today, 21/09/09
Farmers in N.W fire up as Feds give nod to artesian sales
Lucy Knight, The Land, 26/06/2009
Alarm over auction of artesian basin water
Marian Wilkinson, Environmental Editor, SMH July 4, 2009
Research & Papers
Great Artesian Basin report
SoilFutures Consulting, March 2015
Credit Suisse Equity Research – Santos Report
Credit Suisse Securities Research and Analytics, 11 March 2014
List of fracking bans worldwide
Updated December 2013
Symptomatology of a gas field
Geralyn McCarron, April 2013
Is fracking good for your health?
Jeremy Moss, Alicia Coram & Grant Blashki; November 2013
CSG and Your Health: Understand the Risks, Protect Your Family
Dr Wayne Somerville, 2013
Cooking up a price rise
Matt Grudnoff, The Australia Institute, 5.7.13
Higher levels of stray gases found in water wells near shale gas sites
Various authors, Duke University, 24.6.13
Pouring more fuel on the fire
Matt Grudnoff, The Australia Institute, June 2013
Information to stop gas-fired power
Dr Gideon Polya, 19.06.13
Peer Review of Interim Protocol for Site Verification and Mapping of BSAL
Robert Banks, SoilFutures Consulting - 1.05.13
Coal Seam Gas Moratorium
Published by Mike Mizzi on 27.1.2012
Fracking hell: the untold story
Earth Focus & UK's Ecologist Film Unit
Exposure to severe urban air pollution influences cognitive outcomes, brain volume and systemic inflammation in clinically healthy children
US National Library of Medicine (PubMed) National Institute of Health
How the EPA linked “fracking” to contaminated well water
ARS Technica - 9.12.2011
Who regulates the regulators?
A Question of Balance - CRN (Community Radio Network)
NSW: Fossil or balanced future?
Total Environment Centre - October 2011
The Coming Famine – Prof. Julian Cribb
Julian Cribb & Associates Discussion Paper
The Great Artesian Basin: more than the eye can sea
A Question of Balance: CRN (Community Radio Network)
110922 Question Without Notice Coal Seam Gas
Senator Larissa Waters in parliament, questions re coal seam gas
The mining and burning of coal: effects on health and the environment
The Medical Journal of Australia - paper by Dr's Castleden, Shearman, Crisp and Finch
Senator Bill Heffernan and NICNAS at CSG Senate Inquiry
Coal Seam Gas Senate Inquiry - 10.9.2011
Senate Inquiry Hansard NSW Bureaucrats
Federal Senate Hearing - 3 key NSW govt. bureaucrats - 9.9.2011
Submission to parliamentary inquiry
Submission to Parliamentary inquiry into coal seam gas
Assessment of impacts of CSG operations
Professor Chris Moran, Dr Sue Vink - University of Queensland
Documents: Natural Gas’s Toxic Waste
Articles on Gas' Toxic Waste
Groundwater Impacts of Coal Seam Gas Development
Mr. Mal Helmuth - Executive Director LNG Projects - with Sue Vink, Nadja Kunz, Damian Barrett, Chris Moran
Submission into impact of mining coal seam gas
Doctors for the Environment Australia Inc. Dr. David Shearman, Hon Secretary
Groundwater connections between the Walloon Coal Measures and the Alluvium of the Condamine River
John R Hillier - consulting hydrogeologist
Preliminary Assessment of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Robert W. Howarth, David R. Atkinson, Professor of Ecology & Environmental Biology, Cornell University
Methane contamination of drinking water
Osborna, Vengoshb, Warnerb, and Jackson - Center on Global Change, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
Violence behind mining boom revealed
Queensland University of Technology - Professor K. Carrington. 6.12.2010
UNSW Connected Waters
The University of New South Wales 'Connected Waters' web site
E.I.S. for coal seam gas in Surat Basin
Golder Associates - June 2009
We support the following organisations:
Northern Rivers Guardians
Maules Creek Community Council (MCCC)
Mid Western Community Action Network (MWCAN)
Lock the Gate Alliance
Western Downs Alliance
Bylong Valley Protection Alliance
Caroona Coal Action Group
Basin Sustainability Alliance
Rivers SOS
Fair Water Use
Save Our Recharge Environment
Gasfield Free Byron Shire
Four Corners – Gas Rush
Courtesty: ABC TV 2011
US doco sparks gas debate
If the Cap Fits
Courtesty: ABC TV 2009
"In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation".
From the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development a key international agreement currently in force to which Australia is a party.