Following the success of the public forum hosted by the Camden Haven Anti Fracking Group (CHAFG) in June, the CHAFG committee has continued to monitor activities in this industry.
Ian Oxenford said meetings have been held with Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams in which letters and petitions against coal seam gas development in the Camden Haven were presented.
Mr Oxenford said Mrs Williams has since advised of changes by the State Coalition Government, including a ban on the use of BTEX chemicals (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) as additives during coal seam gas drilling; a regulation that requires extraction of more than three megalitres per year from groundwater sources to hold a water access licence; a ban on the use of evaporation ponds relating to coal seam gas; and new public consultation guidelines to increase trans-parency and accountability to be finalised in consultation with the Government’s Stakeholder Reference Group.
The Government’s Stakeholder Reference Group is reviewing this process, Mr Oxenford said.
Mr Oxenford said CHAFG welcomes these improvements to current regulations and looks forward to evidence-based science as a basis for clean and safe practices in this industry if it is to proceed. “Hopefully this will guarantee the safety of our waterways, land and our health.”
CHAFG members held a booth at the Laurieton Riverwalk Market which attracted a great deal of public interest, with Greens MLC Jeremy Buckingham also in attendance.
The group made a submission to the National Food Plan emphasising concerns on CSG impacts on the oyster industry, recreational and commercial fisheries and agriculture in our area, Mr Oxenford said. CHAFG asked that the National Food Plan explicitly states that the Australian Government support an independent objective science-based risk analysis of Coal Seam Gas mining licences that focuses on public health, environmental safety and food security.
