Irene Gale – 26 May 2014

Dr Allan Hawke AC
Commissioner
Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory
Darwin NT 0801

Dear Sir,
Although I am not resident in the NT I have family there, and I am concerned about the results  of ‘fracking’ wherever it takes place in Australia, since in the end it affects us all.
The great reliance all of Australia has on the aquifers in maintaining ongoing sustainability of life is plainly obvious!
Other negative effects on the land and environment and on people’s health have become obvious in places where ‘fracking’ has occurred.

Some points of concern are:

• 90% of NT is under active exploration or application for petroluem or gas.
• majority of this is unconventional and shale gas and will require hydraulic fracturing
• Amadeus basin (source of Alice Springs water) is a priority region for gas exploration in the NT.
• Fracking has been identified as a contamination threat to groundwater supplies both in Australia and internationally.
• Other concerns include environmental degradation, waste disposal, large volumes of water required, chemicals used in fracking, health concerns, fugitive emissions, and climate impacts.
• NT has the weakest water regulations in Australia
• In only takes 1 faulty well to pollute an aquifer.

See the following website for information about ‘fracking’ accidents which occurred in the United States up until 3 years ago:
http://earthjustice.org/features/campaigns/fracking-across-the-united-states 
Shale basin and plays geographic data were retrieved from the U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION and were current as of May 9, 2011.

I am deeply concerned about the danger of severe damage being done to our country by ‘fracking’ and therefore wish to state my strong opposition to it.

Yours faithfully,
Irene Gale