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13th February 2010
Fair Water Use has received a report vindicating concerns about the activities of the mining sector in the Murray-Darling Basin. Its contents refute assurances from the industry that their coal seam gas mining operations will have little impact on the catchment of the nation's largest river system.
The image below is of the area around the tailing pond of one of the thousands of exploratory shafts that will be drilled throughout the region as part of the evaluation process for this water hungry industry, which threatens to contaminate and deplete local aquifers and creeks, cripple regional agriculture and reduce inflows into the river system.
Contaminated water escaping into the East Pilliga State Forest
(Photograph courtesy Tony Pickard)
We have been informed that the site in question is one operated by Eastern Star Gas, a company in which SANTOS has a 35% holding. The effluent flowing from the breach in their ineptly constructed tailing pond contains a range of industrial contaminants. It is flowing into Jacks Creek and ultimately into the Namoi Catchment which feeds into the Murray-Darling river system. More images of the significant problems at the site may be viewed here.
We are advised that Eastern Star did not inform relevant authorities about the breach and consequent pollution until one week after the leak first occurred: five days later than the period required under the terms of its operating licence.
This is only one of thousands of such mines scheduled for construction in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Fair Water Use has contacted the Premiers of NSW and
Queensland requesting that they heed the concerns of local residents
and consider the potential impacts on the millions of Australians that
depend on the Murray-Darling river system. It has urged Premiers
Keneally and Bligh to intervene and put an end to coal seam gas mining
in the region. |
