THE federal government has given the go-ahead to Queensland's $30 billion coal seam gas industry, but with tight conditions imposed on the two major projects. Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke issued a statement today in which he said that there would be 300 conditions placed on project proponents. South Australia-based Santos, which is in partnership with Malaysia-based Petronas, and British Gas, which took over local company Queensland Gas, are both proposing refineries at Gladstone in central Queensland with an investment of about $15 billion each. “I have decided that these projects can go ahead without unacceptable impacts on matters protected under national environmental law,” Mr Burke said. “We must protect the Great Artesian Basin, our threatened species, our waterways and the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Burke said. “Today's announcement involves more than 300 conditions which provide these environmental protections and allow the jobs and investment in Queensland to go ahead.”
The Queensland government has ruled out a moratorium on the industry, which environmentalists say poses a threat to marine life on the Great Barrier Reef and underground water, and could seriously degrade land. Mr Burke said one of the more critical conditions surrounded how to deal with the issue of water within coal seams. “There has been a concern as to whether or not there would be an issue of backfill from the Great Artesian Basin. “The report from Geoscience Australia made clear that they recommended a precautionary approach on this because for individual projects they viewed it as very limited in terms of danger,” he said.
Here is the link to the Australian newspaper web site: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/major-queensland-coal-seam-gas-projects-receive-conditional-approval/story-e6frg9df-1225942370463
Earlier, an ABC report said:
Friends of the Earth spokesman Drew Hutton says the environmental cost is too great and Mr Burke should say no. Hutton hopes the Federal Government knocks back two liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Queensland in the same way it rejected the Traveston Crossing dam proposal. Mr Hutton says the Government has assessed the projects under the same environmental legislation that rejected the dam plan. "The Traveston decision was one example where the Federal Government did act responsibly," he said. "It did take on board all of the considerations and it made a decision that really got the State Government - which was acting irresponsibly - out of hot water. "I hope they do the same again."
Farm lobby group AgForce wants a moratorium on coal seam gas exploration.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/22/3045208.htm
The farmers’ lobby group Agforce and Friends of the Earth are curious bedfellows in both opposing the gas projects. Normally they are in the opposing corners of the environmental boxing ring, with Agforce wearing the deep blue of conservative farmers, and Friends of the Earth a deep green persuasion. Queensland Council of Unions secretary Ron Monaghan said the projects had the support of unions if health and community issues were addressed. "They have to hasten slowly if there's issues of health for the community. It's legitimate for society to look at it (health issues) but it's also legitimate to support more than 10,000 jobs and the development of new industry in Queensland."
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