Not enough known on CSG: expertsWater Commission lacks expertise to protect Great Artesian Basin
THE Bligh Labor government today all-but confirmed it lacked the technical expertise to monitor the impact of gas exploration and extraction on the Great Artesian Basin.
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 […]
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.”
Queensland – Home of the big rubber stamp
Queensland has always struggled to regulate mining and with shaky environmental approval for the state’s biggest mining project, nothing seems to be changing, writes Drew Hutton. The mining industry is a law unto itself.
The highly productive Darling Downs includes areas such as Felton, Haystack, Acland and Wandoan have the best topsoil you are likely to see outside of the Ganges Delta, as well as being more intensively settled. They are set to be sacrificed to what Guy Pearse calls “King Coal” — and the Queensland Government is doing all it can to facilitate this trend.
But while King Coal might be receiving plenty of attention there is another key player in the Queensland mining sector that is subject to less scrutiny: the coal seam gas industry.
Why do landholders have no power against CSG?
WHY do landholders appear to have so little power in negotiations with mining companies, when key sections of the Queensland Petroleum and Gas Act 2004 emphasise protection of landholder interests?
“The Minister has not set guidelines, so they (petroleum companies) have had a free run in how they consult with land-owners, if at all.”
“The Minister is giving the industry the exemption to do whatever it likes by failing to set guidelines.”
HOMEPAGE BLURB – be careful
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 […]