HBGAG Response to 'raising few complaints'
Date: 09-Oct-08
Author: Graeme Gibson
MEDIA RELEASE.
SYDNEY GAS CLAIMS "FEW COMPLAINTS" TO HUNTER DRILLING FOR METHANE. (ABC News 8.10.2008).
"This claim by controversial methane explorer, Sydney Gas Ltd, is far from the truth. It appears that Sydney Gas will say anything to try and justify its drilling program right next to the vineyard village of Broke" says spokesman for the Hunter Bulga Gas Action Group, Graeme Gibson.
Hundreds of residents continue to complain to the Government and to Sydney Gas about the behaviour of Sydney Gas.
An example of some of these many complaints are that Sydney Gas:
- Refuses to commit to a full Environmental Assessment study.
- Will not address possibility of methane leaks or migration through soil other than to dismiss the possibility by the General Manager Mark Harper saying that "more methane will leak from the back passages of the local school children" than will leak from the Sydney Gas well near the local school.
- Ignores the risk of explosion so close to the village.
- Dismisses views of scientists who don't agree with theirs.
- Says it will explore next to Broke village rather than in some other part of the two million odd hectares that is available to them.
- Will use millions of litres of fresh water.
- Will truck millions of litres of toxic water through rural areas.
- Refuses to accept responsibility to compensate for loss of land values.
- Will not agree to formal restrictions.
- Refuses to accept responsibility for damage to all third parties.
- Fails in community consultation and fails to listen to the community's concerns.
- Must build a compressor plant close by - "a gas works" - covering acres.
Coal Seam Methane Gas mining is fraught with danger, with proven risks of:
- contamination of ground water affecting rivers, streams, brooks, waterways, wells and bores;
- depletion of ground water;
- contamination and destruction of vegetation from the saline and toxic water taken from the seams;
- sterilisation of soil and death of vegetation from migrating and leaking gas.
- escape of gas increasing global warming;
- escape of gas risking explosion and suffocation;
- migration of gas, risking explosion;
- increasing global warming by flaring and burning the gas;
- large and noisy compressor installations;
- explosion and leakage of methane into the atmosphere from leaks in pressurised gas pipes;
- loss of amenity and lifestyle;
- loss of house and land values;
- loss of business;
And all this about 300 metres from the Broke public school and within 200 metres of the start of the village, aggravated by drilling through the water tables and aquifers flowing into the Wollombi Brook and eventually into the Hunter River.
For further information please contact:
Graeme Gibson.
Hunter Bulga Gas Action Group Inc.
02 65791062
9th October, 2008
