I have quite a number of major concerns regarding hydraulic fracturing
in the Northern Territory and would hope that the inquiry will give
significant in-depth, balanced and unbiased consideration to these
considerations:
o The history and high risk of failures and accidents associated with
fracking across the world demonstrates that it threatens the health of
our rivers and aquifers. Even within Australia there is much
indecision and uncertainty about the risks. Let us not repeat the
history of the 1950s when there is uncontrolled use of toxic substances
to the serious and sometimes fatal detriment of many individuals and
communities.
o I believe that the risk of fracking is too high and the potential for
serious long-term impacts too great to be compensate for the
short-term financial benefit to the Northern Territory. Let's do it
right the first time by having a moratorium until further detailed
scientific investigations have been conducted. We have the opportunity
to show that we really care about the Northern Territory and its
people. Let us not blindly follow the money magnet.
o The high level of water use by mining companies which is not
controlled by the Water Act, meaning mining companies do not need to
seek a licence to extract water for fracking. And water is such a
precious resource particularly in desert areas.
o Industrialization and fragmentation of our pristine bushlands, which
are our biggest asset in terms of both biodiversity and providing for
the livelihoods of many Territorians.
o The impact on the landscape since one shale gas field typically contains many wells connected by pipelines.
o The risk of gases seeping out into our aquifers, waterways and bores.
o Health impacts of fracking caused by the contamination of our air and water.
o The lack of responsibility by mining companies to protect the health of the surrounding environment and communities.
o The lack of information about its potential cumulative environmental, social, health and cultural impacts.
o The devastating impact it could have on our fishing and tourism industries
o The social impact of industrialization turning our regional and remote areas into gas factories.
I ask the Inquiry to fully consider the following questions:
1. The EPA has stated that there are too many wells to assess individually and that the NT Government does not have the resources to ensure compliance.
Will companies be required to undertake environmental impact
assessment of each well and, if no,t isn't that a disaster waiting to
happen? Decades of experience with self-regulation has proven that too
much is left to chance. The Northern Territory, if it chooses, can
set a benchmark of the highest standard for the rest of the country.
Let's do it with thoroughness knowing that the outcomes will be in the
best interests of the land and its residents.
2. How can the community have confidence in the government to be able
to make informed decisions based on the science and not just the hard
sell from mining companies?
3. Have any independent studies been undertaken to properly assess the impacts of fracking in a tropical monsoonal environment?
4. How will the potential health, social and cultural impacts of fracking be assessed?
5. Who pays for environment clean up if fracking allows gas to leak
into the groundwater and more methane to be released into to our
atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions?
6. Do mining companies have the right to come on to any pastoral lease,
private freehold or native title land and frack for gas without free,
prior and informed consent by the landholder?
7. Where landholders do have a right to veto, or to compensation, how is their decision process informed?
8. What will happen to the millions of litres of contaminated waste water?
9. Who benefits financially from fracking?
10. How will mining companies be subsidized or incentivized to frack using taxpayer dollars?
11. How can people living in remote communities contribute to this Inquiry?
12. How will commercial interests be represented in this Inquiry?
13. Will any forums be held to discuss issues raised by the Inquiry?
14. Will the Inquiry acknowledge that both mining companies and
governments have a vested interest in allowing fracking to go ahead
despite the risks it presents, and the bias that this presents?
15. How will the results of this Inquiry be reported and enacted?
16. Who will ensure mining companies comply with any guidelines formed as a result of this Inquiry?
17. If I have concerns about fracking activities taking place on my property, who can I contact?
I call on you to make recommendations for:
1. Ensuring that any fracking development takes place according
to the Precautionary Principle for Ecologically Sustainable
Development and that this is incorporated into the relevant legislation.
2. Funding an independent scientific study which properly
assesses all impacts (environmental, health, social and cultural)
caused by fracking both interstate and overseas to assess the risk to
the Territory.
3. Independent assessment of the climate impact of fracking, including fugitive emissions.
4. A moratorium on all fracking until all of these risks have been properly assessed by independent scientists.5. Assessing and establishing permanent ‘no go’ zones for
sensitive areas as reserved blocks under the Petroleum Act (eg.
Drinking water catchments, cultural or environmentally significant areas
such as sacred sites or protected areas, groundwater recharging zones,
food croplands)
6. Ensuring the onus of proof to demonstrate that fracking is safe for
the Territory’s environment and communities is borne by the mining
companies rather than landowners, including the collection of baseline
data prior to any impact.
7. An open, transparent process for information to be provided and distributed throughout communities.
8. Mining companies must obtain free, prior and informed consent from all landholders as per best practice management.
9. Mining companies undertaking fracking must be required by
law to respond to the criteria for environmental impact assessment as
per any other significant development.
10. Water use by mining companies must come under the Water Act so that
companies taking water for fracking are required to apply for a water
extraction licence.11. Proper resourcing of monitoring and compliance bodies such as the EPA and Department of Mines and Energy.
12. Provisions to ensure that the mining company bears the
financial and moral responsibility for any negative impacts caused by
fracking.
13. The NT Government ceases the use of taxpayer dollars to
provide subsidies and incentives to mining companies for the purpose of
exploration, extraction and rehabilitation.
Signed SJTrull