RURAL land holders in the Camden Haven were given a strong message to beware of strangers bearing cheque books and mysterious contracts from Coal Seam Gas mining companies.
Around 400 people attended a meeting at the Laurieton United Services Club last Thursday night to learn more about the side affects of coal seam gas exploration and mining, hosted by the Camden Haven Anti Fracking Group. The night saw an unusual alliance form between environmental activists and farmers.
The Camden Haven area was surveyed last year by companies looking for coal seam gas resources.
Keynote speaker Dr Marian Lloyd-Smith, co-chair of the renowned international organisation IPEN (International Persistent Organic Pollutants Network), spoke of her experiences with the environmental and socia trauma which the coal seam gas (CSG) industry has wreaked on rural communities.
“There are vital things to know before mining should take place,” Dr Lloyd-Smith said.
The process of extracting the gas in the coal seam is called fracking - injecting fluid at high enough pressure to fracture the rock and coal seam enabling the methane gas to flow more easily to the well.
The fluid used is primarily water, but also contains a number of chemicals. Dr Lloyd-Smith said the fracturing can cause the chemicals to leak into aquifers which in turn can leak into local water supplies affecting drinking water and local waterways - affecting humans and wildlife.
“The have chemicals released here would be a death warrant for the area,” Dr Lloyd-Smith said.
“I believe coal seam gas mining is the biggest threat Australia has ever faced - the loss of our water supply.
“There is no means of disposing the fluid used in fracking, the ‘produced water’ as mining companies call it.”
Dr Lloyd-Smith said in most cases the produced water is put into pond to evaporate, allowing chemicals into the air and leaving behind toxic solids. She said many of the chemicals used are known carcinogens. Many also affect the reproductive cycle of animals and humans and cause endocrine (hormone) disruptions.
She said other concerns were: the lack of transparency from the mining companies who are reluctant to reveal the chemicals they use in fracking; the lack of risk assessment for extreme events like the Queensland floods; and consultation with landowners and the community.
Steve Robinson of the Gloucester Barrington Stroud Preservation Alliance has first-hand experience of dealing with mining companies. With the move to explore and mine coal seam gas in the Gloucester Basin, Mr Robinson said the company submitted a slim 35-page concept plan to the government for approval, then released a 17,000 page document for the public to comment on and make submissions.
“The 17,000 page document was our last chance to make a submission and have our say,” Mr Robinson said.
“They expected regular people to go through a huge document. We did. Then you have to monitor the government website to see what’s happening next, because they don’t tell you. We found the proposal was approved and lodged an appeal which is going through now.
“We have two coal mines expanding and interest in coal seam gas, it’s a lot of work for our alliance. The recent rain flooded the area where they are proposing to put the gas well. God knows what will happen if it goes ahead.”
Farmer and local representative of the NSW Farmers Association Deborah Willis spoke of the lack of transparency in the approval processes for CSG mining.
“The NSW Farmers Association has established a mining taskforce after a number of coal seam gas and mining issues affected members across the state,” Mrs Willis said.
“We have developed a framework of sustainable development for the agricultural and extraction industries which includes five steps to protect agricultural land. We also lobbied for a moratorium on new mining exploration in NSW and advised key ministers in the NSW election. We were pleased when the new state government imposed a 60 day moratorium.
“There is inadequate application and approval processes currently in place regarding mining, particularly in terms of community consultation.
Most landholders are unaware that approval may have been given for exploration on their land. The fact is that the government owns and controls the mineral sand resources under your land.”
Mrs Willis said the NSW Farmers Federation would like to see better protection of agricultural land over mining and clearer access agreements between farmers and miners.
“More than 70 per cent of NSW is under mining exploration. We must conservatively manage this for the future. Anything to do with our water supply is important for global food security.”
Oyster farmer and NSW Farmers Association Oyster Specialist Mark Bulley said his industry relies on water quality and water purity.
“I’m concerned that extraction industries use settling ponds for their toxic water,” Mr Bulley said.
“I’m yet to see one that would satisfy us during times of heavy rain like we just had. The ponds would overflow into the local water system, kill nutrients and in turn oysters.”
Mr Bulley said he believed the oyster industry and coal seam gas mining cannot coexist in the Camden Haven.
Camden Haven Anti Fracking Group convenor Ian Oxenford said the meeting was a success in terms of making people aware of the potential destruction of the area if coal seam gas mining goes ahead.
“We are doing this to get in early,” Mr Oxenford said.
“There is not much transparency in this process and some only know about mining when the trucks come rumbling down the road. We want to make people aware and to beware of people bearing fat cheques because from the experience of landholders in Queensland, coal seam gas mining is not as generous as it sounds.”
Member for Lyne Rob Oakeshott said the concerns of many local residents are the result of a failure by government to develop public policy that places a premium on access to clean water, soil and nutritional food.
“I’ve been vocal in my criticism of the former NSW Government over its rushed decision to approve 110 gas wells in the Gloucester Basin, and have referred what I believe to be a breach of caretaker conventions, to the Commonwealth,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“The new NSW Government has promised a lot in terms of protecting productive lands like the Camden Haven, Manning and Gloucester regions, and we should look forward to them delivering on those promises.
“I urge each and every person who attended the meeting, to support your local state MPs in their efforts to represent your substantial concerns to the NSW Government, which has the authority to address this issue.”
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