[Greens-Media] Stop fracking! MP calls for more rigorous scrutiny of UCG industry

[Mann, Maria]

Robin Chapple MLC
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region


MEDIA RELEASE


Stop fracking! MP calls for more rigorous scrutiny of UCG industry

Monday, 10th March 2014

Greens member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC has joined his national counterparts in calling for a halt to the unconventional gas industry's use of fracking.

"The contamination of groundwater from Santos' fracking operation in north-western New South Wales has set warning bells ringing throughout Australia, and the government will ignore this at its peril" Mr Chapple said.

"No amount of income from the gas that is extracted using the risky practice of fracking is worth the hazard threat to human health and the environment.

"Risks from the process of fracking are manifold - from the toxic chemicals and large quantities of water used in the operation to the very real danger of well casing failure.

"Research in the USA shows that 6-7% of shale gas well casings fail within three years of construction, and horizontal wells are four times more likely to leak than vertical wells.

"Disposal of 'flowback' fluids also present a major challenge: at the end of each fracking operation tens of thousands of litres of water mixed with fracking chemicals must be stored then disposed of, creating a pathway for the contamination of groundwater.

"This industry clearly needs to be more thoroughly scrutinised, but the number of operations in WA threatens to exceed the capacity of the regulator to ensure they are failsafe.

"In the face of this uncertainty the WA Environmental Protection Authority last month recommended against the need to assess Buru Energy's proposed drilling program in the Kimberley, a recommendation the Mines Minister was only too eager to follow.

"The WA community disagreed and the matter is now before the Appeals Convener, who received eighty appeals.

"There is an inquiry into fracking going on in Western Australia and we are calling for all proposals to be put on hold while this is ongoing," Mr Chapple said.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

Maria Mann
Electorate Officer
Office of Robin Chapple MLC
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region
Ph: 08 9192 8128
Mob: 0427 935 052
PO Box 1048, Broome WA 6725
4 Boab Court, Broome WA 6725
(Main Office: 41 Havelock St, West Perth WA 6005)
(Phone: 08 9486 8255)