Eye on Coal Seam Gas Industry

David vs CSG Goliath

Well it's a hot button topic, and getting hotter all the time. I've posted on the CSG industry before, here and here. It's certainly shaping up as a David versus the international mining Goliath, and the state Governments, certainly those in New South Wales and Queensland, seem to be on the side of Goliath.

I just thought I would do another quick blog and post links to some pertinent articles I have come across, for those wanting to keep an eye on the state of the industry. This first one, in particular, is a big worry. Residents living in the Tara residential estate west of Toowoomba in QLD have reported nosebleeds, chronic headaches, nausea and rashes. One resident claims he can even set his dam on fire. All since CSG activities began in the area.

The community claims residents have been lied to about the effects of CSG mining, so this is one to definitely keep a close eye on. I will add to the list as I come across more stories.

• Residents of TARA, QLD claim nosebleeds, chronic headaches due to water contamination of CSG mining 

http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/protesters-want-qld-minister-to-drink-csg-water/

• NSW Labor opposition claims a secretive new Liberal National Party policy weakens CSG mining controls

http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/labor-secret-nsw-policy-weakens-csg-controls/

• The Coalition says it will 'get around' a new law to force the federal government to take responsibility for coal seam gas, giving power for environmental assessments to the states to speed up the approval process and boost the CSG industry.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/30/coalition-coal-seam-gas-law

Coal Seam Gas Industry lies

September 2012

Following on from a previous BLOG with regard to fracking with Australia's water future, I am again urged to buy in to the Coal Seam Gas (CSG) saga with this recent revelation brought to my attention by Australian lobby group GetUp. 

It is a another blatant reminder of how vigilant we must be with our local issues and in keeping our pollies accountable for what is best for Australia's future, not just what's best for Australia's immediate (corporate) financial present. The more I learn about the CSG industry, the more disturbed I am. And so should every Australian. 

Part of a new multi-million dollar advertising campaign by APPEA ("the voice of Australia's oil and gas industry"), says: ‘CSIRO and government studies have shown that groundwater is safe with coal seam gas’. But that's a lie and the CSIRO flatly rejects it.

Just the fact the CSG industry has to pay for deceitful advertising to spin this topic just further highlights to me the dangers and risks the CSG industry makes to Australia's fragile natural environment and is all the more reason for every Australian to look deeper into the issue and be aware of what is going on. It's for the future security of all Australians that we take on this task.

From GetUp:
Have you seen the coal seam gas (CSG) industry's latest advertising campaign? The CSIRO's slammed it for misusing their research to claim CSG is safe for Australia's precious water and aquifers. Send the CSG spin doctors a message now demanding they publicly commit to ending their campaign of lies: http://www.getup.org.au/stop-csg-lies --

More Information on CSG:

Australian Geographic:
For another view, read what Australian Geographic have to say about it here

Excerpt:
There are serious concerns, nationally and locally, about CSG production, including increases to our greenhouse gas footprint (relative to renewable energy sources), leaking wells contaminating freshwater aquifers, and the impact of thousands of wells and kilometres of pipeline that could adversely affect large tracts of land.  

http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/csg-gas-mining.htm


Documentary:
2011 Oscar Nominee: Best Documentary, A film by Josh Fox
For a really good doco that will fill you in on everything else you need to know, check out GASLAND Australia.  http://www.gasland.com.au

Gasland is a 2010 American documentary film written and directed by Josh Fox focussing communities in the United States impacted by natural gas drilling and, specifically, slickwater fracking, concieved after Fox received a letter from a natural gas company offering to lease his family’s land in Pennsylvania for $100,000 to drill for gas. 

Australian farm families are now going through this and more information about that can be found from on the website of  the Lock the Gate Alliance here
http://lockthegate.org.au



You will also find some more information on a previous BLOG from this site.  

Information on the potential depletion and pollution due to coal seam gas extraction on the Great Artesian Basin can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Artesian_Basin.

The list of dangers and negatives outcomes is endless... Get educated and stand up before it's all too late! Write to you local minister, your state minister and your federal minister. It's too important not to.  

You can also email APPEA and let them know what you think about their spin doctoring via GetUp's website here.