PRESS RELEASE
CSG Green light in Hopeland a disgrace
The State Government has given the green light for further coal seam gas exploration and development within the Hopeland community impacted by the Excavation Caution Zone established as a result of soil contamination by highly explosive gases caused by Linc Energy.
The Queensland Government has rejected a request by affected landholders to place a moratorium over the ECZ until further testing and investigations can be undertaken, and instead have told CSG companies to proceed “with caution”.
The Department of Environment and Heritage has spent $6,500,000 in environmental investigations which have established widespread soil and groundwater contamination caused by Linc Energy activities in Hopeland which are now the subject of pending criminal charges.
The investigations by the DEHP into the serious environmental damage caused by Linc include more than 300 shallow soil vapour bores, 80 long term soil gas monitoring bores together with water sampling from underground bores.
Those investigations found extensive fracturing of the landform and the contamination of the soil by toxic gases which have accumulated above their explosive limits.
Based on evidence received, on 18 April 2016, the State Government prohibited all UCG activities in Queensland and announced a moratorium on all future activities related to UCG.
Hopeland landholders are concerns that an CSG exploration and development within and adjacent to the Excavation Caution Zone not only has the potential to seriously compromise the ongoing scientific investigations being conducted by the Department but also risks the exacerbation of further soil and ground water contamination.
Landholder Lawyer Tom Marland who acts for landholders within the ECZ and also the class action against Linc Energy said that:
“CSG development within the excavation caution zone cannot be undertaken without posing unacceptable risks of the further release and spread of toxic gases and other contaminants.”
“This is the same flawed process that lead to the Linc approval and contamination in the first place. Jump first, look later”.
“On the one hand you have the Government shaking the finger at Linc and crying crocodile tears for the people of Hopeland and then with the other hand they are letting CSG companies sneak in the back door” said Mr Marland.
“Surely, some common sense will prevail and the Government will place a moratorium over the ECZ at least until they have finished their investigations and prosecution of Linc” Mr Marland said.
“I am sure the CSG companies with tenements over the area will have some compassion and give those in Hopeland a break. It is also in their best interests to ensure that their activities are not dangerous or cause further contamination” said Mr Marland.
ENDS
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