Contamination in the Condamine River
The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham said today that footage of methane gas bubbling up through the Condamine River in Queensland, close to coal seam gas well sites, was proof that the industry is unsafe and puts at risk our water supply. He warned that the O’Farrell Government was about to put NSW rivers at risk by unleashing coal seam gas.
The footage of the gas bubbling up through the Condamine River can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/Di8cCrlyW6k
“Gas bubbling up through t a 5km stretch of the Condamine River is the worst case recorded so far of what appears to be pollution related to fracking for coal seam gas,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.
“Fracking and drilling for coal seam gas by Origin Energy may have caused the rock to crack allowing gas to migrate into the aquifers and up through a major river.
“This is the canary in the coal seam gas well. The O’Farrell Government must not allow the coal seam gas industry to pollute rivers and aquifers in NSW.
“The Condamine River is used for drinking water and irrigation. It is both frightening to think the O’Farrell Government is willing to put rivers including the Manning, Namoi, Gloucester, Hunter, Richmond, Clarence, Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers at risk.
It has also allowed drilling in the Special Catchment Area on the Illawarra Plateau and near Warragamba Dam.
“The industry claims it is safe, but we’ve had toxic spills killing trees and polluting creeks in the Pilliga Forest, we’ve had well blow outs in Western Sydney and in Queensland, we’ve had contaminated aquifers in the United States, and now it seems they have fractured the rock beneath a major river in the Murray-Darling Basin and gas is leaking out uncontrolled.
“How many incidents do we need before the government wakes up and commits to protecting our water and land?
“It is disturbing that it falls to the public to highlight these incidents, while the companies and government either do not know what is happening, or are covering it up,” he said.
Contact: Max Phillips – 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916
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