To Dr Allan Hawke,
I am writing to submit my opposition to the proposed hydraulic
fracking in the Northern Territory. The risks associated with the
potential contamination of ground water / aquifers by carcinogenic
chemicals used in the fracking process is too great to risk allowing in
our region. In other places where fracking has been allowed,
contamination has occurred. Reports suggest that not only
does groundwater get contaminated with carcinogens, but also other side
effects can result such as methane seeping from the ground in affected
areas to even sinkholes opening up. Currently it seems to be an
unproved and inexact science. Until proven safe methods of extraction
are available a moratorium on hydraulic fracking in the Northern
Territory should be enforced. We can't risk contaminating the water of
future generations, leaving a carcinogenic legacy due to the rushed
legislation of a money hungry government and big business. Allowing
fracking without knowing conclusively that it was safe would be a gross
case of negligence. Short term jobs would be created for mostly FIFO
workers, whereas territory residents will be left with a carcinogenic
legacy for ever. Only when there is no clean water left to drink will
those responsible realise that you can not drink money. Most likely
though, that those looking to frack are not locals and will move
elsewhere after exploiting our back yard, leaving the mess for us to
deal with. We can not allow this to happen. The long list of
environmental disasters in the NT resulting from current conventional
mining practices is astounding within a "first world" country.
Allowing an unproved method of fracking in the NT would be courting
environmental disaster. The current relative pristine wilderness of
the NT and our drinking water supply should be ensured by not allowing
the proposed fracking and environmental degradation of the territory.
History will judge you and your actions. I hope you choose wisely.