Coal seam gas public meeting

Coal seam gas is already a big industry in Queensland and mining companies are now turning to NSW (including the Clarence Moreton Basin, which runs from south of Grafton up to the Queensland border), with the promise of a new local industry that will create jobs and cleaner energy.

But there are serious concerns about the potential for chemicals to contaminate drinking water, and how the wastewater will be disposed of.

To help inform people about what is going on in the area, the potential environmental impacts and the legal rights of landowners and communities, the Environmental Defender’s Office (EDO) is holding a free public seminar next Wednesday, February 2, at the Lismore Workers Club.

Mark Byrne from the EDO said while some landowners are happy to have exploration on their land, they have had calls from locals who are concerned, especially when exploration wells appear on land near their homes when they say they haven’t been informed in advance.

“One of the biggest problems is that the industry is so new and there is so little experience with this kind of mining in Australia generally, but this area in particular, that everyone is learning as they go – including the miners.”

The public seminar will be held in Room 7 from 6-8pm. No bookings are necessary. (For more, see Mark’s article in this issue.)