Thousands join stop CSG protests across NSW

[icyfroth]

Up to 3,000 people have donned yellow clothing in the New South Wales north coast town of Murwillumbah as they march in protest to coal seam gas mining.

They were joined by about 1,000 protesters in Sydney's inner-west, who formed a human sign spelling out "Stop CSG".

Murwillumbah rally spokeswoman Amanda Shoebridge says comments by the New South Wales Government this week that coal seam gas mining is inevitable failed to dampen the community's resolve.

"People will really, after news like that, dig their heels in and say well 'actually mate, no, no we're not going to allow CSG in here and you don't have social licence to do it, you don't have the approval of the community and it's not going to happen'," she said.

Stop CSG Sydney spokeswoman Jacinta Green says there is nothing to prevent miners exploring the Sydney basin, water catchments and prime agricultural land.

"Not one inch of New South Wales has been left off limits to the coal seam gas industry," she said.

Similar protests are set to be held across the country as part of a national week of action against the CSG industry.
Protesters are concerned state governments are not doing enough to protect the environment from coal seam gas mining.

Murwillumbah rally spokeswoman Amanda Shoebridge says comments by the New South Wales Government this week that coal seam gas mining is inevitable

Is it really?

"People will really, after news like that, dig their heels in and say well 'actually mate, no, no we're not going to allow CSG in here and you don't have social licence to do it, you don't have the approval of the community and it's not going to happen',"

Does the government give a rat's behind about community concerns, and does it even have the power to stop CSG exploration?

Or is it too busy quarrelling about sexism and misogyny!?

[donnashuggy]

.

Smacks of, I'm OK bugger everyone else.

take a look:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/television/four-corners-americas-broken-dreams/story-fncnkitx-1226573791607

[monman12]

LL: "katter says 87% of the revenue is going o'seas. allowing for inflated claims.. it still isn't worth the risk"

What risk LL?

[monman12]

DY: "Smacks of, I'm OK bugger everyone else."  "take a look:"

Gosh we live in Australia, why the USA ref, ?

[viewmont1071]

Here is another one

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41760.pdf

[lakeland27]

LL: "katter says 87% of the revenue is going o'seas. allowing for inflated claims.. it still isn't worth the risk"

What risk LL?

the risk of contaminating the aquifers.. which does certainly exist . the other risk of course being the Katter party winning more seats.

[donnashuggy]

DY: "Smacks of, I'm OK bugger everyone else."  "take a look:"

Gosh we live in Australia, why the USA ref, ?

Is it against forum rules to make comparisons? Maybe read the whole thread. Or watch the program - it's an eye opener.

[monman12]

Katter contamination is a worry LL.

As for the risk of contamination, (or cows not producing milk)  there are 100s of thousands of wells OS, and 100s here to use as actual data sources, that is of course if opponents can determine the difference between coal seam gas production and shale gas production (fracking)

VM has a link to a good US Congressional study paper, however, it is titled:-

Hydraulic Fracturing in Oil and Gas Production, but the Qld. gas production is from CSG  the vast majority coming from wells drilled in the extensive coal fields.

Here are some excerpts from the study of the more contentious form of gas production, (fracking) :

EPA found no confirmed cases of contamination from hydraulic fracturing of CBM formations, and concluded that the injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids into CBM wells posed little threat to underground sources of drinking water and required no further study. Additionally, EPA had discussed the use of diesel fuel in fracturing fluids in the 2002 draft report

Thus far, the data suggest that hydraulic fracturing—particularly in deep zones—is unlikely to contaminate underground sources of drinking water, and most reports of contamination have been associated with surface activities or well construction and operation problems, not hydraulic fracturing per se.

[cueperkins]

 Instead of focusing on what we differ on, why not focus on the things we agree on.  Australia's best interests and the future of our kids.

AUSTRALIA needs politicians who represent OUR best interests, not the interests of an elite few at our expense, or OS interests robbing us blind for a bag of beads disguised as jobs.  The mining companies are doing us no favours because they can't mine the ruddy stuff without a labour force.  They need us, but we don't necessarily need them. 

I'd seriously like to know (and will be sending this question to Q & A myself), why Australia isn't investing in mining its own mineral wealth & selling it for the best price to the highest bidder..... and developing a Global food bowl to save our farmers & create new industry?....rather than giving it all away.

Australia has the potential & wealth to put away such a massive surplus it isn't funny but we're too damn complacent to stand up and DEMAND that our Politicians protect & represent our interests.  Crikey we're losing jobs & entire industries with them and they think we're gonna be able to just keep paying and paying and paying.....without industry we're done and dusted. 

As for there being any difference -  in Johnny's last year the wealthiest in this country increased their NET wealth by a record 26% while the rest of us went out backwards.  They're still earning 'record' profits even after a GFC and a change of Govt......

What does that tell you?...that it doesn't matter who's in Govt?...it should if you're paying attention......we no longer live in a democracy, more like plutocracy where the rich use their influence to get favourable policy outcomes for obscene profits from willing Pollies.  (We've seen it on both sides so it's not a matter of one or the other)

Unless we challenge our Pollies' penchant to always favour the elite few, we might as well just keep expecting political BOHICA = Bend Over Here it Comes Again.

[lakeland27]

'and most reports of contamination have been associated with surface activities or well construction and operation problems, not hydraulic fracturing per se.'

its this area that i can see problems.. the risk of contamination from lax practices and '''operational problems''. call me cynical, but with the large numbers of wells the chance of these occurences are quite high. it's bound to happen somewhere.

[monman12]

I agree LL, but the same can be said of any industry. What is required are appropriate regulations/oversight, not prohibition of an industry over 50 years old and with more than 500,000 wells and 100,s of environmental studies behind it.

If you are interested research: Water quality degradation in rural environments, or just water chemical contamination in Australia.

"Gosh we live in Australia, why the USA ref, ?"
DY: "Is it against forum rules to make comparisons? Maybe read the whole thread. Or watch the program - it's an eye opener."

I have read the whole thread DY, which mainly addresses CSG production, and I see no relevance in this link of yours DY: Four Corners: America's Broken Dreams, Monday, 8.30pm, ABC1 which has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with CSG production.

I prefer VM's link: Hydraulic Fracturing and Safe Drinking Water Act Regulatory Issues