Dr Laura Metcalf – 21 May 2014

To The Commissioner,

I have some very grave concerns regarding the NT Government's support and encouragement of horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing for shale gas exploration and production.  After some personal research into this matter, the scientific consensus appears to be "we need more research ".  However the NT Government has issued exploration permits and still continues to do so during this Inquiry.  Not only has there been a total lack of public consensus on this matter but also a huge lack of information and education to the public. Unfortunately this type of mining seems to have a much wider effect on the community and environment than other forms of mining, so it is imperative the public has more information on hydraulic fracturing, the most likely regions for production and mining development, and the size of possible gas fields, including the distance of piping etc between each gas well.

The following are some of the concerns I have with regards to horizontal hydraulic fracturing in the Northern Territory:

• the history of aquifer/ground water pollution;
• the quantity of water used in each hydraulic fracture including exploration (especially with regards to the exemptions the mining industry has from any water allocations);
• it is unclear who is responsible for the long term maintenance of retired wells and the life span of the integrity of these wells, as concrete and metal deteriorates over time (especially under pressure);
• the increase of seismic activity associated with hydraulic fracturing and the possible effects this may have on neighboring communities and habitats;
• the risk of radioactive elements being released from the earth when fracturing occurs, is this to be in the waste water?;
• it is unclear how the waste water will be managed, especially in a wet/dry tropical environment;
• there is a great risk of environmental and habitat destruction and devastation in underpopulated areas (there is a history of mining companies causing huge environmental effects and not being held accountable or adhering to revegetation and rehabilitation);
• the devastating impacts on the health of individuals living in proximity to a gas field through water and air pollution;
• the devastating impacts this industry may have on the landscape of a region which may NEVER be rehabilitated to its natural state - will this land ever be able to be used again in tourism, living, fishing, farming etc after a well or gas field has expired?
• why does the NT Government allocate $8 million dollars for exploration in an industry known to cause horrific environmental, social and health concerns that are irreversible?  Of the future $23.8 million dollars allocated for this industry, is any of this going into independent research before the drilling occurs?  Why is there no equivalent funding into renewable energy resources?
• why are mining companies under the Petroleum Act exempt from baseline environmental studies before exploration begins?  Why is it not compulsory for baseline studies to be done in every type of habitat concerned, with further environmental impact studies done e.g. monthly?
• why does the public have no control or right to veto such an industry with a history of long term environmental, social and health effects?

It appears the NT Government had already gone into agreements with the Petroleum Industry before any public education or opinion began. I fear the vested interests of the private sector and the NT Government have clouded the science behind hydraulic fracturing. There needs be clear regulations imposed on mining companies of water usage, allocations, waste water management.  There needs to be adequate baseline environmental studies in all habitat regions. There needs to be continued regulated and enforced environmental impact studies with implications if these are not met or pollution levels are exceeded.

The Petroleum Act is inadequate for such an industry to begin in the NT. The Environmental Act is arbitrary and outdated. There needs to be more independent scientific studies done before such an industry is to begin in the NT.

I fear for the health and future of our landscape, flora and fauna, and our children I fear the possibility of the NT becoming a wasteland of deteriorating retired gas wells and a polluted landscape unable to be restored or used in any way.  Who will be responsible for this when the company has long prospered and folded?  Where are the long term studies on hydraulic fracturing effects?  What will the land, air and water quality be in these regions 10, 50, 100 years after a gas well has been capped and retired?  Has there been a study on the integrity of a retired gas well 150 years later?