Coal Seam Gas

On Friday 28 February, four Weatherford drilling rig workers at a QGC coal seam gas (CSG) well site near Tara in Queensland were exposed to as yet undisclosed levels of radiation. They handled a radioactive equipment component left at the site by workers from another oil and gas services company, Schlumberger. The radiation source was not shielded and labeled as required by regulation.(1)

On Sunday around 300 residents rallied in Campbelltown in western Sydney and called on the NSW state government and Federal Government to protect drinking water and drinking water catchments, and for local communities to protect their farmland and water resources from Coal seam gas (CSG) development. Jess Moore from Stop CSG Illawarra spoke passionately and outlined the campaign to stop coal seam gas mining in Sydney's water catchments and the threat it poses to the millions of people who live in greater Sydney area. Here is her speech with transcription.

The Adelaide headquartered mining and energy company Santos has withdrawn proposals for development of the Pilliga gas field near Narrabri in north western New South Wales.

Santos took over Eastern Star Gas' assets in the Pilliga Forest in 2011 with the intention of developing 550 duel coal seam gas wells and associated infrastructure. They were vigorously opposed by the local community and activist groups including the Wilderness Society. Conservationists have welcomed the withdrawal but are aware that further proposals may be submitted in future.

There was a dramatic unfurling of a giant "Enough Is Enough: Stop Coal & Gas Expansion" banner by two activists who abseiled down the front of the hotel where mining company executives were meeting to plan the wholesale exploitation of NSW even at the cost of communities and the environment. This was the highlight the protest organised by Lock The Gate, an alliance of urban and rural groups opposing coal seam gas mining.
Text, video and picture by Peter Boyle