Coal Seam Gas (CSG)

(images from Stop CSG Illawarra website)

On Sunday I went to a Stop Coal Seam Gas Illawarra meeting in Thirroul (Wollongong). I went along to see what it was all about, to see what kind of people are running this organisation and to learn anything I can about coal seam gas exploration/mining.

I've been researching CSG for a while now for something I'm writing. The more I researched about it, the more concerned I became. Extracting CSG is a dirty, invasive, intrusive, potential environmental disaster. 

"There are five big drinking water catchments managed and protected by the Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA). All are covered or encroached on by current CSG exploration licences. The catchments supply drinking water to two thirds of people in NSW.

These licences are titles granted by the government that define an area for oil or gas exploration and require that exploration activity take place.

Development consent for CSG wells — approval to drill and run them — has been granted in NSW drinking water catchments. This includes the approval of wells in SCA Special Areas, buffer zones established to protect drinking water quality. Unauthorised or illegal access to these areas attracts fines of up to $44,000.". (Stop CSG Illawarra website) 

The question here is: how can CSG mining be permitted to go ahead in catchment areas for drinking water when there is a lack of research to determine the exact effects of CSG mining? It is illegal to access Sydney Catchment areas but permits are granted to sink exploration wells.
 

www.frackfreedorset.org

 You may have heard on the news, or read in the papers lately about the process of hydraulic fracturing or "fracking". Basically fracking is a process which uses the high pressure injection of large volumes of water, sand and chemicals into the ground to fracture coal seams which sit relatively close to the surface. Fracking expands cracks in the coal seams, allowing gas to flow faster from a wider area. This brings contaminated water and geological disruption close to water catchments and aquifers as well as the above ground natural and built environment.

Fracking has been directly linked to a considerable number of serious environmental incidents including water contamination, earthquakes and fire. The process is already banned in France and other countries, including parts of the USA. (Lock the Gate Alliance website)

  
The Stop CSG Illawarra community group is not politically aligned, is purely community organised and run and is not for profit. The people in running the group are well organised, dedicated and passionate "every day" people and I'm proud to be part of this amazing group that is working tirelessly towards common goals.

"Concern about these risks (of CSG mining in the Illawarra) is why Stop CSG Illawarra calls for:

• A Royal Commission into all aspects of coal seam gas mining;
• A moratorium on coal seam gas mining pending the outcome of the Royal Commission; and
• A ban on fracking and similar coal bed ‘stimulation’ technologies and techniques." (Illawarra SCG website)

I have to go now, I have 500 Stop Illawarra CSG pamplets to deliver in my neighbourhood. Its a lot of walking and I'm hoping, from a purely selfish point of view, that along with the brochurs, I will drop a kilo or two of the body beautiful while I'm at it.