Close to 200 people turned out for a special coal seam gas forum at the Armidale Town Hall to hear from experts who spoke about the risks to water, health and the environment from coal seam gas mining.
“The great turnout for the forum highlights again the wide and growing community opposition to coal seam gas mining,” said Carmel Flint, spokesperson for Armidale Action on Coal Seam Gas (AACSG).
“The attendees were shocked to learn that our governments have allowed this industry to roll out across NSW while there is still so much scientific uncertainty about its impacts. Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith informed the forum that only two of the 23 most commonly used fracking chemicals have been assessed by the national chemicals regulator.
“John Polglase highlighted how little is known about our underground water systems and the many uncertainties that are associated with drilling, fracking and the extraction and re-injection of vast quantities of water.
“I informed the forum that 90 per cent of the New England-North West region is now covered by coal seam gas licences or applications and that experiences in places like the Pilliga and the Liverpool Plains have shown that there are serious risks to bushland, farmland and communities from coal seam gas mining.
“We were also fortunate to hear from the Federal Member for New England Tony Windsor who spoke about his efforts to finally bring some independent scientific expertise into the mining assessment process.
