Photo © 2009 AAP Image/Origin Energy
The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association has denied reports that a spokesman had admitted that coal seam gas drilling could contaminate water supplies.
The Sydney Morning Herald had reported APPEA spokesman Ross Dunn as telling a fiery community meeting in Sydney on Tuesday that good management could not eliminate the risk of contaminating water aquifers.
"Drilling will, to varying degrees, impact on adjoining aquifers," Mr Dunn was quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald.
"The extent of impact and whether the impact can be managed is the question," the quote continued.
APPEA today rejected the report, denying the reported quotes, and calling the description of contamination as “inevitable” a “Sydney Morning Herald invention.”
“APPEA and the industry have consistently said … water extraction associated with coal seam gas will reduce water pressure within the target coal seams. The extent to which this process affects other aquifers – if at all - is determined by geological separation, in terms of both form and distance.”
"…The industry supports the development of regulation of the highest standard in both Queensland and NSW regarding environmental management, water management, land access and other issues, which will ensure the industry continues to develop sustainably.”
The Greens have called for NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell to stop two expired coal seam gas exploration leases from being renewed.
The AGL exploration lease at Camden, southwest of Sydney, expired on March 28, while Eastern Star Gas's lease to drill near Narrabri, in the state's north, expired on August 2.
"There's so much community concern that the premier cannot ignore ... this is an issue that requires the very highest levels of attention,” said NSW Greens' mining spokesman Jeremy Buckingham.
Eastern Star Gas has previously argued that water produced from coal seam drilling would come from an area below the Artesian Basin and would not be the same water used for irrigation and drinking.
with AAP
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