Sean Gough
Sean Gough (WAGE Chairman) introduction and conclusion from the Laguna meeting "Why we say NO to Sydney Gas".
Transcript
Introduction
My name is Sean Gough and I am chairperson of the WAGE action group, which we have formed to oppose the development of a gas field in the Wollombi Valley.
WAGE is not ideologically based, is not aligned with any political party and takes no position as to the pros and cons of the use of methane gas as a fuel.
WAGE is independent and solely concerned with the welfare of this valley and its community. We appreciate that change is a constant factor in our lives but feel it is incumbent on us all to prevent change for the worse and to choose change for the good.
The reason for today's meeting is to present information surrounding the issuance of an exploration licence by the NSW State Government to the Sydney Gas / AGL joint venture and their activity here in the Wollombi Valley.
To set the context.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries has issued Petroleum Exploration Licences to a consortium of Sydney Gas Limited and AGL Energy to explore for Coal Seam Methane Gas (CSM) across a significant area of the Sydney Basin including the Wollombi Valley.
Sydney Gas proposes to first drill 5 core holes at sites near Singleton, Broke and Wollombi.
After analysis of the cores from those drill sites, they could then proceed to run pilot wells, which test the production possibilities of the coal seam. If those pilot wells then prove production feasible, they could then apply for a production lease.
Conclusion
Coal Seam Methane Gas extraction is relatively new, the Onshore Petroleum Act written in 1991 which is used to govern this activity does not even mention methane.
It is an uncertain science and, despite platitudes of reassurance from Sydney Gas, we know it carries risks as confirmed by the Department of the Environment.
Sydney Gas goes to great lengths to describe the measures they take to seal the core hole they drill, which is fair enough. But they do not know the hydrogeology of this area, they do not know how much water will need to be removed from the coal seam; they do not know the source of that water feeding the coal seam and if it is linked to groundwater that our bores and creeks depend on, they do not know whether the methane will be caused to vent unpredictably when fracturing the coal seam.
We have to rely on them to handle the contaminated water safely and we have to rely on their words of reassurance that everything is going to be all right.
Sydney Gas has a history of unreliable instability. Their Management and Directors come and go like Italian Governments. The history of their business is dubious and unreliable at best and not the sort of operator that you would want to have to trust.
But, regardless of their perceived shortcomings. Lets say they do manage to stay afloat and keep steering a steady course.
Let's say they do discover a significant gas field under the Wollombi Valley. Such joy!! But wait, now their General Manager says: "I must stress that we are not proposing gas production in the Wollombi Valley....our exploration in this area is only of a temporary nature"
What can he mean?
He told us that it costs about $1 million to complete one hole and you would have thought his shareholders would be looking for some return on their $2 million investment in these two holes.
Maybe he got it wrong or maybe he is saying that because they haven't actually found any methane yet, then they are not yet proposing gas production in the Wollombi Valley.
They now tell us that they are examining a 10,000 square kilometre area and are seeking to understand the geological picture of potential gas reserves in the region, (here it must be noted their activity is centred around Broke, Singleton and Wollombi) only after they have done complete exploration in the area can they confirm the overall picture.
So the possibility remains, that if they decide that Wollombi Valley is the best place for production and develop a field here with the backing of the Department of Primary Industries, we would see a few hundred holes being drilled, hundreds or thousands of tankers carrying the water away, roads being built across the paddocks, security fences going up, hard hat areas, pipelines being laid, a large compressor station being built.
All carrying risks of pollution and devastation, but undoubtedly leading to the death of this community. Are we honestly expected to believe this would not change the Valley for the worst?
Tourists would not be coming here anymore and our local businesses would die. Most of us would not want to live here anymore and would probably find it pretty difficult to find anyone who would. The environment would inevitably suffer. The birds, mammals, reptiles and fish would move away or die. All the noise and pollution would drive them out or kill them.
So my question is: What on earth does the NSW State Government think it is doing by indiscriminately issuing permits to a company like Sydney Gas to explore for Coal Seam Methane Gas in a place like the Wollombi Valley?
Thank you.
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