Imminent Threat - Wollombi Valley
Date: 26-Sep-11
Author: Sean Gough
Rumours are swirling around the valley that AGL are set to expand their coal seam methane gas field operation southward from Broke into the Wollombi Valley and are in negotiations with landholders including someone at Stockyard Creek by Paynes Crossing.
If true and having already drilled an exploration well on one property at Stockyard Creek, the company would probably now be looking to establish a test well which is run for period of time to check the quality and rate of flow of the gas coming up from the coal seam to the wellhead. This would involve removing very large amounts of water from the aquifer and, possibly, fraccing the coal seam with all the inherent risks.
However much truth there may be in this rumor, it tells us that for as long as AGL holds a gas exploration licence over this area the threat remains and we must be vigilant.
We have learnt so much about the Coal Seam Gas industry over these last few years and it is now clear they are hell bent on finding and extracting as much gas as possible for export. Pipelines are being built to transport the gas to Newcastle and LNG plants being built in Newcastle port. So we cannot pretend that it will just go away, we are all in the firing line. There is no room for complacency.
Remember the key to our campaign is to Lock The Gate. We do not negotiate and we do everything in our power to stop this industry in its tracks. Speak to your friends and neighbours to make sure we are all aware of what is going on. If any facts about AGL activities in the Wollombi Valley become available then please let WAGE know.
WAGE is a member of the Lock The Gate Alliance. Signs and bumper stickers will be available from the local stores, so please look out for them and get a few for your property and your car.
Lock The Gate is organizing a national day of action on the 16th October. Communities around Australia are organizing to get together in their own towns to demonstrate unity in our campaign to defend our water from the ravages of the coal seam gas industry. Details of events in our region will be advertised shortly. We do want a banner made identifying Wollombi as a supporter of this campaign. Please let me know if any of you wants to arrange an event for the Wollombi community and/or wants to make up a banner. If making a banner, then we in fact need two, one of which will go to be displayed at the Sydney event.
Finally, please make a donation. Our ongoing campaign is largely driven by the enthusiasm of volunteers but we are always facing costs which have to be met. Please use the link at the WAGE website http://wage.org.au/donations/ or leave cash and cheques for us at the Wollombi General Store or Laguna Wine Bar. Your support is always sincerely appreciated.
I will be sending you information about forthcoming events including a forum at Gunnedah on the 12th October, a demonstration at Singleton on the 10th October and details of the Lock The Gate Hunter campaign being launched.
Best wishes,
Sean Gough
Chair
Wollombi Valley Against Gas Extraction (WAGE)
sgough@wage.org.au
