Wollombi Valley Against Gas Extraction

Date: 03-Sep-08
Author: Sean Gough
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In answer to the latest bit of PR released by Sydney Gas about the concerns of residents in Broke, it must be said they completely ignore the issues we are most concerned about.

• There is a proven risk that when changing the dynamics of the coal seam by dewatering and fracturing, methane gas can escape to the surface at points far away from the wellhead. This raises the extremely serious risk of methane gas seeping into nearby homes through the septic and up drainage pipes. This could cause death by suffocation, fire or explosion. Alternatively, the methane could seep up through soil causing it to become anoxic and killing all vegetation. Another possibility is that the methane could bubble up into aquifers and watercourses.
  
• There is a proven risk that dewatering of the coal seam can cause other aquifers or groundwater to be depleted, thus reducing the availability of precious water to flora and fauna as well as local farmers. The Wollombi Brook is already severely stressed by drought and we cannot afford any further risks to its health.
  
• Comparing methane to petrol and calling it extremely safe is an insulting piece of fraud designed as a deception to be believed by idiots. Then going off on a tangent about the comparative risks associated with a petrol station is simply a furphy. A petrol station is a controlled environment with manageable risks whereas we are pointing out the proven, uncertain risks raised by the extraction of water and methane gas from a coal seam laying in an uncontrolled state under ground.
  
• Some other points to make about a petrol station

1. The petrol station/general store provides very definite benefits to the community and tourists;
2. It is not built on flood prone land;
3. Broke needs only one of them, not nine then hundreds;
4. You have to submit a DA to local council before opening a petrol station.

Sean Gough