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WAGE News

Farmers squeezed out of energy boon

Date: 04-Feb-12
Author: Matthew Cawood (The Land)
LANDHOLDERS should be capitalising on seismic changes in how we generate energy, says Matthew Wright, but instead they are being pushed aside.

Mr Wright, executive director of Beyond Zero Emissions, thinks the thrust of current government policy will be to deny many landholders the ability to profit from wind generation, while compromising the enterprises of other landholders who host coal seam gas (CSG) operations without sharing in CSG profits.

Beyond Zero Emissions, a non-profit organisation, has the goal of moving Australia "from a 19th century fossil fuel based economy to a 21st century renewable powered clean tech economy".

Metgasco still waiting on licence

Date: 04-Feb-12
Author: Mel Mcmillan (Northern Star)
A PETROLEUM production licence - which would see Metgasco begin extracting commercial quantities of coal-seam gas from its Richmond Valley leases - has still not been granted more than 12 months after the com-pany applied for it.

Petroleum production licence number nine was lodged with the Department of Primary industries by the company in December 2009.

It is understood the hold-up relates to a Native title claim covering an area where Metgasco has leases.

The Northern Star asked the department to provide details of any Native title considerations relating to the application.

Ipswich CSG sites ruled out by Arrow

Date: 03-Feb-12
Author: Geoff Egan (Ipswich Queensland Times)
ARROW Energy has ruled out CSG exploration in the Ipswich area despite holding exploration leases across the city.

The energy company owns mining leases from Forest Lake in the east to Toowoomba in the west and south to the border.

There are currently three wells in Swanbank and Springfield areas.

Drilled by Arrow in 2002 and 2003, and Conoco in 1996, two of the wells are abandoned and the third suspended.

(Audio) Coal seam gas protesters face court

Date: 03-Feb-12
Author: Steve Austin (612 ABC Brisbane)
Five protestors charged over anti-coal seam gas protests last month appeared in the Beaudesert Magistrates Court this week.

Another 10 protestors will face court over the next month following a 10 day blockade at the Arrow Energy site near Beaudesert.

Tracey Larkin was first before the Magistrate.

Red Sky Energy sees upside potential as New South Wales decision on Talma CSG pilot draws near

Date: 03-Feb-12
Author: Bevis Yeo (Proactive Investors)
Red Sky Energy (ASX:ROG) has confirmed the strong upside potential in its Clarence Moreton Basin coal seam gas noting its share of contingent resources in PEL 457 stands at 188.7 petajoules.

At least part of this resource could be converted to reserves status once the company receives approval to drill the Talma pilot production well, which targets the highly prospective Kangaroo Creek, and carry out a long-term production test.

This will also add to the company's existing proved, probable and possible reserves of 114 petajoules, which currently ranks as the fifth largest amongst the non-major companies.

Red Sky ranks above Dart Energy's (ASX: DTE) 102 petajoules and below Senex Energy's (ASX: SXY) 249 petajoules reserves position.

AgForce CSG stance under fire

Date: 03-Feb-12
Author: Frances Adcock (ABC News)
The Wide Bay-Burnett Conservation Council in southern Queensland has accused farm lobby group AgForce of sitting on the fence when it comes to coal seam gas (CSG) exploration.

AgForce held an information session this week in Tiaro, south-west of Maryborough, to prepare landholders for any future negotiations with resource companies.

The council's Roger Currie says the group, which is lobbying for a CSG moratorium, should not be contradicting itself.

"AgForce is a lobby group that is supposedly represents the interests landholders in Queensland," he said.

[In contrast to the above]

On behalf of its members AgForce seeks the following key commitments from the major parties:

1. Protect agriculture from coal seam gas and mining developments

http://bit.ly/zAK1GP

Mine came at too great a cost: mayor

Date: 03-Feb-12
Author: James Law (Muswellbrook Chronicle)
Wybong residents have accepted a surprise apology from Muswellbrook Shire mayor Martin Rush for the council's support of the Mangoola Coal Mine.
Speaking to ABC Radio earlier this week, Cr Rush apologised to community members, who have complained about the detrimental effect the mine has had on the village, found west of Muswellbrook.

Speaking to the Chronicle yesterday, Cr Rush said the mine had come at "too great a cost" for the people of Wybong.

"The mine has caused a substantial fracturing of a close-knit rural community which has lost approximately half its population as a result of the mine's development," Cr Rush said.

Manning Alliance backs Oakeshott in coal seam gas mining fight

Date: 03-Feb-12
Author: Manning River Times
CHAIRMAN of the Manning Alliance, Peter Epov, has applauded member for Lyne, Robert Oakeshott for his initiative in calling for priority consideration by the federal government for an independent scientific study into the impact of coal seam gas mining on water in the Manning and Gloucester valleys.

"This is a critical and a pivotal point in the fight to insulate the Manning Valley from coal seam gas mining," Mr Epov said yesterday.

"If Mr Oakeshott can deliver this, it can insulate the Manning and Gloucester valleys from the growing threat to its water supplies from coal seam gas activities."

The Alliance was formed last year to work with the community to prevent coal seam gas drilling in the Manning. It arranged the Blue Day rally to coincide with the local sittings of the NSW Upper House committee inquiry into coal seam gas mining, held at Club Taree.

Locals meet for Whiporie csg seminar

Date: 03-Feb-12
Author: Clarence Valley Daily Examiner
SOME 30 people attended the Whiporie coal seam gas seminar hosted by the Clarence Valley Against Coal Seam Gas Mining group on Wednesday night.

Group spokesperson Katie Doyle said locals appreciated being informed about the potential dangers of CSG and their legal rights.

Companies such as Metgasco and Red Sky Mining have petroleum leases over large sections of the Clarence Valley and Red Sky intends to establish large scale gas wells and an energy station in the Whiporie area.

Pells Consulting reports on Thirlmere Lakes

Date: 03-Feb-12
Author: Pells Consulting
Report on the Water Levels of Thirlmere lakes, October 2011[14.8 MB]
This is the main text of the report.

Appendices to Thirlmere Lakes report[17.0 MB]
The appendices comprise the six progress reports that were issue during the period of the study. These appendices contain data that is used in the main report but is not all reproduced in the main text.

Addendum to the Thirlmere Lakes report issued in December 2011[2.37 MB]
A summary of additional work completed to that time.

Addendum 2 to the Thirlmere Lakes report issued 30 January 2012[5.64 MB]
This Addendum deals with gas extraction from the Bulli Seam at Tahmoor Colliery during to excavation of Longwalls 14A through to Longwall 21 in the period 1994 to 2004 and implications thereof to the hypotheses formulated in the report of October 2011.

Mine may be forced offset carbon emissions

Date: 02-Feb-12
Author: AAP via Nine News
New coal mines in NSW, or those seeking to expand operations, could be compelled to offset their greenhouse gas emissions if a landmark court case is successful.

In the first case of its kind, the NSW Land and Environment Court indicated last November that the expansion of an open cut coal mine near Mudgee may only be granted if it offsets its direct emissions.

The matter returns to court in Sydney on Friday.

If it expands, the Ulan Coal mine, a joint venture between Xstrata Coal and Mitsubishi Development, is expected to pump out approximately 575 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over its 20 year life span, according to a submission by the Environmental Defender's Office.

Principal Solicitor Kirsty Ruddock from the Environmental Defender's Office said the case could have wide-ranging ramifications for future coal and coal seam gas projects in the state.

Communicating the resources sector in 2012

Date: 02-Feb-12
Author: CPR
The resource sector will certainly look back on 2011 as one of the most challenging years in recent policy history. It is accepted knowledge that the wealth of the mining industry has insulated the Australian economy from much of the effects of the global financial crisis.

For the mining industry, this means that it's hard to be one of the most profitable sectors amid economic instability - and this ultimately means tax.

The standout campaign for 2011 was the Minerals Council of Australia's, This is our Story, which has been well received. This positive outcome was largely the result of the campaign's sensible approach of not preaching to the audience but factually creating the narrative of how the industry is assisting communities.

It also sensibly understood that it needed credible third parties to talk about the industry. It is not what you say about you but what your friend's do that is important.

There have also been some less-than-spectacular examples of industry campaigns this year that failed to resonate with either the community or policy makers - demonstrating that a good story still has to be told well, rather than just hoping that it speaks for itself.

The fight to silence fracking opponents: Republicans order arrest of Gasland creator Josh Fox

Date: 02-Feb-12
Author: Kate Ausburn
Josh Fox is now prolific for his work to highlight the stories of Americans who've been affected by the rise of the unconventional gas industry and in particular the technique of hydraulic fracturing ('fracking') to stimulate gas flow. His 2010 documentary, Gasland, was a devastating blow to the industry. Fox is currently working on a sequel.

Mine growth sparks fears for koalas

Date: 02-Feb-12
Author: Paul Robinson (ABC News)
Wildlife researchers say the growth of the mining industry could pose a challenge to central Queensland's koala populations.

A forum is underway in Rockhampton in central Queensland to discuss ways to ensure the survival of koalas.

Central Queensland Koala Research Centre coordinator Dr Alistair Melzer says populations in the region have been declining since the 1990s.

Land use hits stalemate

Date: 02-Feb-12
Author: Bronwyn Farr (The Land)
NSW FARMERS has questioned the motives of coal seam gas industry representatives in the crucial stakeholders group charged with bringing much anticipated mining and land use policy for the State into being.

Responding to reports the CSG industry peak body, the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) would not accept farmland being quarantined from CSG exploration and development, NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson suggested if APPEA could not accept government policy it should walk away.

"All of the stakeholders are sitting around the table knowing what the government policy is and knowing there needs to be an upfront scientific assessment with the possibility of ruling out some land for mining and CSG because of its impact on water and agriculture," Ms Simson told The Land.