Drawing on the Great Artesian Basin

Four years ago, the late great water warrior, Professor Peter Cullen, made some pertinent comments on ABC in an interview with Julia Harris.

“If you just have a free for all, grabbing at whatever ground water’s there, they’ll all dry up. So I think a prudent government should be managing a resource like this to make sure that this wonderful natural asset that you’ve got, is there for the future and future generations,” he said.

“I’m advocating a national approach to managing our ground water seriously and that means controlling who can take it and measuring how much they take.”

Garrett stalls Qld’s coal seam gas projects

Gladstone Regional Mayor George Creed also says he is pleased the EIS process for the proposed LNG projects is thorough. Cr Creed says if Mr Garrett believes it is necessary for an extension of time to achieve that result, then that is the way it should be. He says he believes that Mr Garrett would […]

Underground coal gasification plants must be shut down

The Queensland government has shut down the underground coal gasification (UCG) project by Cougar Energy at Kingaroy, due to the discovery of carcinogenic chemicals in surrounding bores. UCG is a ludicrous technology where coal seams underground are set on fire and the resulting gas is extracted. The State Government is conducting an uncontrolled experiment with the environment of Queensland with both UCG and coal seam gas
It is unbelievable that the thought of proceeding with this technology could be entertained.

Gas Trial shut down over chemical concerns

The viability of underground gas production is being questioned with a pilot project in Queensland’s South Burnett region ordered to shut down.

Take your time with LNG decisions, Garrett told

The Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, postponed until October 11 a decision granting environmental approval to the Gladstone and Curtis Island liquefied natural projects.   A spokesman said the delay would allow Mr Garrett to obtain more information on the impact of the projects, which the Queensland government approved this year. The Basin Sustainability Alliance said Mr […]

Government stalls LNG projects

Mr Hutcheon says it was wrong for the Queensland Government to conditionally approve the project in the first place.

“The Queensland Government gave provisional approval for these developments without knowing the answer to that question as to whether the Great Artesian Basin would be impacted,” he said.

Water Woes from Gas Drilling

“A spark ignited the natural gas that had collected in the basement of Richard and Thelma Payne’s suburban Cleveland home, shattering windows, blowing doors 20 feet from their hinges and igniting a small fire in a violent flash. The Paynes were jolted out of bed, and their house lifted clear off the ground.”