Will Coal Seam Gas Extraction Ruin the Great Artesian Basin?

Earlier this week, the Basin Sustainability Alliance hosted  a seminar featuring groundwater engineer and researcher Colin Hazel speaking about what he sees as the possible impacts of gas extraction on the Great Artesian Basin.

Breakfast Radio on ABC Southern Queensland spoke to Alliance chairman Mr Ian Hayllor to get it's perspective, but also to Queensland and New South Wales Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association Director Matthew Paul for the industry's perspective on the possible long term effects of coal seam gas extraction on this massive natural resource.

This interview is a summary of the points made by both parties.

Listen to the interview here.

Queensland's Groundwater: Vulnerable and Invaluable

More than 200 people attended the seminar in Dalby on Thursday to hear from Mr Colin Hazel about the need for careful management of the vulnerable and invaluable groundwater resources.

Mr Hazel spoke to the group about how groundwater is stored and how it moves, how the Great Artesian Basin was formed and how it works, the occurrence of coal and coal seam gas and the possible impacts of gas extraction and inter-aquifer transfer of water resulting from it.
He emphasised the importance of monitoring: 

Monitoring is vital. Just like we check our temperature to monitor our health, we need to be monitoring and recoding the groundwater levels and quality to check on the health of our groundwater systems.

We are stewards of this water for future generations – for our children and our grandchildren.

Mr Hazel is a lecturer at the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training—part of the International Centre for Excellence in Water Resource Management and author of a book on groundwater hydraulics.

Other speakers at the seminar, coordinated by the Basin Sustainability Alliance, spoke strongly about the need for government to protect groundwater resources.

Anne Kennedy, Secretary of the Great Artesian Basin Protection Group, calling for an independent inquiry into coal seam gas exploration and water extraction. She told the group: 

I have grave fears that this issue will become the asbestos issue of the future.

Jane Holdsworth Major Projects and Economic Development Manager said that while the Western Downs Regional Council supported a balance between the mining of resources through our rich region and the protection of prime agricultural land which will sustain the region well beyond the energy boom, she was concerned about the possible impact of coal seam gas extraction on the region’s water resources.

According to Ms Holdsworth: 

With the number of coal seam gas wells across the region predicted to peak at approximately 40,000, with an estimated 280,000 million litres of by-water extracted annually, concerns about the affects on groundwater supplies are justifiable.

Another issue is the 54 million tonnes of salt waste, produced through the treatment of extracted water, and the proposal to bury that waste in landfills in the region.

However of greatest concern is the fact that there is currently no research being undertaken on the cumulative affects of these major projects and the consequent effects on the Great Artesian Basin and alluvial aquifers.

Solicitor Peter Shannon, Partner of Shannon Donaldson Province Lawyers also addressed the group highlighting the holes and limitations of the current water legislation, reinforcing the need for landholders to be fully informed of their rights when dealing with coal seam gas companies and not to sign anything without legal advice.

Chair of the Basin Sustainability Alliance Mr Ian Hayllor said the seminar had offered an opportunity for people to improve their understanding of the significant issues surrounding groundwater and the possible impacts of coal seam gas exploration on both local ground water reserves and the Great Artesian Basin.

He said the number of people who came along to the seminar including high profile community leaders, researchers, landholders and members of the general public, was a sign of the level of concern.

The community is so concerned that the Government is not doing all it can to protect the Great Artesian Basin through legislation and monitoring.

They are prepared to spend their valuable time learning all they can about the issues, knowing that good depth of knowledge is going to be so important when communicating environmental concerns to the State Government and coal seam gas companies.

What was learnt from Mr Colin Hazel’s very informative presentation will be invaluable to all that attended the meeting when working towards their goal of saving the Great Artesian Basin for future generations.

To support landholders and farmers directly affected by coal and coal seam gas mining, please come to the parliamentary protest on Wednesday August 4th at 12pm.

Speakers will include: 

• Ruth Armstrong (Basin Sustainability Alliance)
• Rob McCreath (Friends of Felton)
• Jo Bragg (Environmental Defenders Office)
• Scott Collins (Western Downs Alliance)
• Drew Hutton (Friends of the Earth)

Morning tea provided from 11am in the Brisbane Botanical Gardens. All welcome! 

See here for the flyer.