Tue, 28/01/2014
Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Hon Robin Chapple MLC has appealed the decision by the Environmental Planning Authority not to assess the 2014 shale gas fracking program proposed to be conducted by Buru Energy at four locations in the Kimberley.
The program targets two wells on Roebuck Plains, about 80km from Broome, and two that are located in the Fitzroy River catchment between Derby and Fitzroy Crossing.
“Apart from one well that was hydraulically fractured in 2010, the practice of fracking is entirely new to the Kimberley, and locals are understandably nervous,” Mr Chapple said.
“In other parts of the world, governments large and small (e.g. France, Pennsylvania USA, South Africa, and our own state of Victoria) have either placed moratoria on fracking or banned it altogether, yet our environmental protection agency has seen fit to allow the proposal to pass without so much as a backwards glance.
“There is plenty to be concerned about: fracking chemicals that Buru is proposing to use are toxic and hazardous to human health and the environment, or they are untested in this environment.
“The WA Departments of Water and Health have cautioned against contamination of drinking water caused by fracking.
“On the other hand, the Department of Mines and Petroleum and WA’s Premier for Big Business are quite gung-ho about the proposal and can’t see what all the fuss is about!
“Thankfully, State Parliament has taken quite a different approach and last year convened a Committee of Inquiry into the Implications for WA of Hydraulic Fracturing for Unconventional Gas. More than 100 submissions have been received and hearings will commence next week,” Mr Chapple said.
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255
