SOME VICTORIES - BUT GAS-MINING STILL A THREAT IN MANY AREAS

Community opposition to unconventional gas-mining has been rewarded by two victories in the last month.  However, there are still many areas of Australia which are under threat from this invasive and damaging industry.  Some areas - particularly in Queensland - are in full production with the impacts on the environment and landholders serving as a stark warning to places where full development has not yet taken place.

This post refers to two recent victories and to two areas where strong campaigns have been mounted to protect the land from fracking.


NSW Northern Rivers Now Gasfield Free

NSW Northern Rivers  campaigners against unconventional gas-mining are celebrating the departure of Metgasco, the mining company holding the remaining Petroleum Exploration Licences (PELs) in their region. The Metgasco Board had accepted a NSW Government offer to buy back the remaining PELs for $25 million but had to put the proposal to a shareholders' meeting.  On December 16 a majority of the shareholders accepted the deal.

This means that the Northern Rivers are now gasfield free, something community members have been working towards for years.  The campaign has seen confrontations at Glenugie (near Grafton), at Doubtful Creek (near Kyogle) and at Bentley near Casino and Lismore.  The strength of opposition grew steadily so that thousands were ready to oppose the arrival of the drilling rig at Bentley.  This, plus reduced majorities for local state government politicians in the election early in 2015- and the loss of the seat of Ballina - finally convinced the Coalition Government that the industry was not welcome.


Another Victory in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory Government was recently assessing an  application by Palatine Energy to explore for shale oil and gas across more than 10000 square km of Watarrka National Park about 300 km south-west of Alice Springs.  Fracking was on the agenda if the company got approval.  Watarrka, contains Kings Canyon gorge, which is a very significant tourist attraction in Central Australia.

The Northern Territory Government initially ignored formal requests by the traditional owners for the park to be protected from an exploration bid.  Consequently a group of traditional owners visited Canberra  in late November to ask the Federal Environment Minister for an emergency heritage listing for the National Park.  Following the traditional owners' trip to Canberra, the NT Government decided to reject the mining applications.  So the traditional owners and other NT community members concerned about unconventional gas-mining are celebrating a victory after a three year campaign.

Image used in the Watarrka campaign

Queensland's Channel Country Under Threat 

The Channel Country  in south-western Queensland is a sparsely populated arid area  of  floodplains and rivers which flow into Lake Eyre in northern South Australia.  The landscapes in this region are home to dozens of rare flora and fauna as well as an organic beef industry. Almost all of the Channel Country is covered by shale gas exploration licences.  Until 2013 there were strong legal protections to prevent fracking on the floodplains - a procedure which would be inevitable to extract the shale gas. However, these measures were abolished by the former Newman State Government.  The current Queensland Government promised to restore protection to the floodplains but so far has not honoured this promise.

If the protection is not restored, there are concerns that the region could be covered by 10,000 shale gas wells.  Because of the threat that this industrialisation of the landscape would bring to water resources and to the natural environment as well as to the beef  industry, a strong campaign is  being developed to force the Government to do what it has promised.

Western Australia's Kimberley Region Also Under Threat

The Kimberley region of northern Western Australia is a wonderful natural area visited by thousands of tourists every year. The area is covered by gas licences and a range of companies have plans to frack for unconventional tight gas with experts estimating that more than 40,000 gas wells could be fracked if the industry is allowed to proceed to full production.

A local group, Frack Free Kimberley, has been campaigning to get a moratorium on fracking in the region. Yulleroo Camp is one of the centre points of the campaign. Yulleroo, on Yawuru country, 70 km east of Broome, where Baru Energy plans to frack two wells, is the site of a protest by Yawuru Traditional Owner Micklo Corpus and his supporters. 

The area is important ecologically.  The wells are located at the head of internationally significant wetlands which flow into Roebuck Bay, a Ramsar listed wetland. Yulleroo is also home to an important population of threatened Greater Bilbies.

PARLIAMENT, THE GOVERNMENT AND GAS MINING

On August 13 a Bill dealing with significant protection from coal seam gas (CSG) and other unconventional gas mining was put before the Legislative Council, the Upper House of the NSW Parliament.   If this Bill, proposed by the Greens and amended by the ALP, passes the Upper House it will be considered in the Lower House.

 

There are three major aims of the Bill.  The first is to impose an immediate moratorium on all unconventional gas exploration. The second is to create permanent no-go zones in the Northern Rivers, in key drinking water catchments and recharge areas of the Great Artesian Basin, in the Pilliga, in prime farmland and critical industry clusters. The third is to ensure that key recommendations made by the NSW Chief Scientist are implemented.

Locals who are concerned about the unconventional gas industry will be watching with interest to see what the Government does if the Bill passes the Upper House and goes to the Lower House for debate.  They will also be very interested in the responses of our local MPs.

This is happening at a time when the NSW Government is negotiating the buy-back of Petroleum Exploration Licences (PELs) in NSW, buy-backs which have been motivated by voter backlash at the March state election where Ballina was won by the Greens and other Northern Rivers sitting members suffered reduced majorities.

While there have already been some buy-backs in other parts of the state, there have been none yet in the Northern Rivers. Clarence Valley activists are particularly concerned about PEL 426 which covers a large area of the Clarence Valley.

Interestingly this Metgasco licence expired in February 2014.  Despite this, it seems that the Government is either unwilling or unable to revoke it. Community members regard it as decidedly strange that an expired licence (particularly one expiring over a year ago) cannot be automatically revoked removing the threat of gas-mining to our area. 

It will be very interesting to see whether this and other Northern Rivers PELs are bought back by the Government or can be revoked if they have expired.

            Leonie Blain

 This post was originally published in the "Voices for the Earth" column in The Daily Examiner on 10 August, 2015.

PEL 426

GASFIELD FREE RALLY IN LISMORE - November 1 @ 10 am

With the State Election due in March next year, Gasfield Free Northern Rivers wants to put more pressure on all state politicians to ensure that the Northern Rivers is kept gasfield free. The November 1^st Lismore Rally is an important part of this campaign.  Below is an abridged version of an email from Gasfield Free Northern Rivers.

 

 

 

For more information see http://csgfreenorthernrivers.org/news/gasfield-free-northern-rivers-rally-november-1st/

Whilst Bentley was a great win, our region is still NOT SAFE from invasive gas mining! Active licenses still cover most of the Northern Rivers and Metgasco plans to start drilling as soon as they can if the current suspension at Bentley is lifted!

With a state election looming NOW is the time to remind our politicians that we are determined to keep our region GASFIELD FREE by keeping this issue on everyone’s agenda.

Will you help us make the BIG RALLY in Lismore on November 1st one of the most powerful events in our region’s history?

 

On November 1^st the communities of the Northern Rivers will be taking the momentous step of declaring our whole region GASFIELD FREE! We will also be calling on the NSW Government to take decisive action to support our declaration by CANCELLING all the gas licences that cover our region.

 

Here’s how you can join us in making the November 1st rally a truly momentous event and help to make gasfields history in the Northern Rivers:

-Show up at 10am at Riverside Park, Lismore on Nov. 1st for the march, rally and declaration

-Pledge to bring FIVE of your family, friends or work colleagues on the day

-Spread the word

The movement for a Gasfield Free Northern Rivers has grown from strength to strength in the last four years because people like you care enough to take action.

Let’s keep building the momentum for decisive action from government by making the rally an event our politicians can’t ignore!

 

 

 

 

METGASCO DRILLING AT BENTLEY UNLIKELY BEFORE NEXT YEAR'S STATE ELECTION

The suspension of Metgasco's licence to test drill for gas at Bentley (the Rosella well) north west of Casino (originally imposed February 6, 2014) was reviewed by the Office of Coal Seam Gas (OCSG) recently.  In extending the suspension the Director of OCSG stated that the company had still not met the requirements in relation to community consultation.

The company is required to undertake "genuine and effective consultation with the community" and to develop a community consultation plan.  In order for the consultation to be effective "those involved must represent a wide range of community interests".

While Metgasco had engaged in some consultation this was not considered sufficiently broad and it had not developed a community consultation plan which should have identified the relevant community interests.  The OCSG Executive Summary of its decision listed other community interests which should have been included -  Lismore and Kyogle Councils, local Chambers of Commerce, environment and other interested community groups.

The increase in local opposition to the proposed well was also referred to:  "Metrgasco's decision to defer a broader consultation program until after the Rosella Exploration Well had been drilled was not reasonable given the escalation of opposition to the activity in the Northern Rivers from the beginning of the year."

Metgasco's arrogance in failing to improve its community consultation after the initial suspension is in line with its attitude to general community concerns about gas mining, an attitude which has been obvious since it started operations in the Northern Rivers.

It is almost certain that the support the industry has had from both the NSW and federal governments has encouraged this attitude.  For example the NSW Government's help in breaking the Glenugie and Doubtful Creek blockades (at considerable expense to the public purse) was vital to undertaking those test drillings. And it is only recently that the local state National Party Members of Parliament in the Northern Rivers have withdrawn their active support for Metgasco.  And the reason is obvious - the imminence of the NSW elections to be held in March 2015.  And federal governments of both persausions have been loud in their support for gas mining and in many cases have condemned local communities for their opposition to the industry.

Metgasco has launched court proceedings against the NSW Government.  The case will be heard in October. 

Gasfield Free Northern Rivers believes that because of  "the damning evidence against Metgasco it is likely that the government will be reluctant to force invasive gas drilling on an unwilling community in an election year.  Nevertheless, the community remains vigilant and will watch the court case closely."

 

BENTLEY GAS DRILLING APPROVAL SUSPENDED

On Thursday May 15 gas-miner Metgasco's right to drill an exploration well at the Rosella site at Bentley was suspended by the NSW Minister for Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts.

Bentley, 12 km north-west of Casino in the Richmond River Local Government Area, has for months been the site of protest  by community members opposed to gas-mining in the Northern Rivers of NSW.  The Bentley protest has been a continuation of protests against Metgasco at earlier test drilling sites at Glenugie, near Grafton, and Doubtful Creek, near Kyogle.

Minister Roberts said that he suspended the  approval on the grounds "that it did not fulfil a condition of its exploration licence, namely to undertake genuine and effective consultation with the community as required." (  Minister Roberts' Media Release   )

Metgasco has apparently misled  local landowners about the type of mining it expected to undertake at Bentley, denying that the gas was in a tight sands formation, which would have meant that fracking was required for its extraction.  The local community has been well aware that the gas is locked in tight sands and is obviously very concerned about the effect fracking would have on the agricultural activities in the area.

It is interesting that the Minister also announced that he has written to the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) "following receipt of information concerning shareholdings and interests in Metgasco Limited". 

The protesters at the protest camp on the property next to the drill site have been celebrating the suspension as have many other members of the Northern Rivers community - and indeed other opponents of the CSG and the unconventional gas industry throughout NSW and further afield.  There is, however, general awareness that, while a celebration is justified, the battle against the invasive gas industry is far from over.

It is interesting to speculate on the suspension decision.  There may have been other factors contributing to it.  A possible confrontation between thousands of Bentley protesters and hundreds of police next week when Metgasco was to begin its preparation of the drill site may have worried the Government.  Compounding this may have been some nervousness about the approach of the state election due in March next year - particularly in the light of the State Government's concerns about the recent relevations in ICAC.

WE DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A GASFIELD - Clarence Valley Woman Writes to Prime Minister Abbott

Lynette Eggins, a Clarence Valley resident, emailed the letter below to Tony Abbott, the Australian Prime Minister on 5 November.

Dear Prime Minister Abbott

I was pleased to hear that you have taken the time to meet with Debbie Orr from Tara in Queensland concerning the impact the gas mining invasion in Queensland has had on her family and community. It is with disgust and disbelief that we read and hear about the treatment of our fellow Australians.

As I'm sure you are aware, gas mining companies propose to invade the Northern Rivers of NSW, an area of scenic beauty and farm land, an area that we live in for the peace, tranquility and natural richness it has to offer to all Australians and overseas visitors.

It is unacceptable to us that we become like Ms Orr and the many other similarly affected residents of Queensland. The Northern Rivers is very densely populated, unlike much of the gasfield areas of our northern neighbour state. If the industry goes ahead, how does your government propose to deal with the health and environmental impacts of such an invasive industry on our close communities?

The introduction of the 2km exclusion zone is quite frankly ludicrous. How can it be that some residents of our country are being offered protection and yet others will become collateral damage? How can the Government openly discriminate against its own constituents?

I am sure government bureaucrats have no idea of the impacts such an industry would have on the Northern Rivers. For example:  we often have severe rain events. This alone is enough to create an environmental disaster. With the massive maze of creeks and river systems running off the mountains the majority of the country is underwater at these times. What will happen with the chemicals, waste water and drilling fluids when it flows away with the flood water? Will we at other times, have the waste water sprayed on our roads and crops and injected into our water supply and rivers as is happening in Queensland?

The largest industry we have is tourism - who wants to come and look at gasfields? Can you imagine the impact such a toxic industry will have on tourism and our many sustainable industries such as the fisheries and farming?

Metgasco, one of the gas mining companies with a PEL over our area, has breached safety and environmental regulations numerous times, and they are only in the exploration stage. How can they possibly manage a gas field safely ?

We do not want to live in an industrialised landscape; we do not need the gas and the government knows it (there is enough gas in Bass Strait to serve Australia for millennia - BHP have stated this)

We are an educated population; we have done our research; we know the majority of the gas is for export and we know the long term toxic affects of the gas industry. Please don't treat us as fools.

We have been surveying our residents door to door, neighbour to neighbour, and an overwhelming majority of people do not want to live in gasfields. It is time for the Government to listen to its people – mining companies have no social licence to operate in the Northern Rivers, or elsewhere in NSW for that matter.

The people of the Northern Rivers will not sit back quietly and watch our land, water, health and sustainable industries be impacted by this invasive toxic industry.

Mr Abbott, will you be remembered as the Prime Minister who listened to and stood up for his people? Or the Prime Minister who allowed mining companies and government bureaucracy to force a toxic invasive industry on his constituents? The power is in your hands Mr Abbott.

I would be pleased if you would supply answers to my questions at your earliest possible convenience.

Yours sincerely

Lynette Eggins, mother, grandmother, business woman and resident of Australia, the lucky country - or is it?