Coal Seam Gas Mining
Rotary
13/7/11
Not in my back yard
Not in ANY back yard!

Who are we?
The LOCK THE GATE Alliance
• a national alliance
• over 90 community, industry and environmental groups,
• over 1,000 registered members & supporters
We are concerned about the devastating impact that certain inadequately assessed and inadequately-regulated fossil fuel extraction industries are having on our short and long term physical, social, environmental and economic wellbeing .

Who are we?
– Educate and inform the community about Appropriate Development
– Lobby and work for Appropriate
Development in the Northern Rivers of
NSW.
– Lobby and work against inappropriate development.

Appropriate development
– Is sensitive to environmental needs
– Accounts for community priorities, values and needs
– Supports economic growth that complements the local area

A POSITIVE CAMPAIGN
We are campaigning FOR
• Independent assessment of CSG mining and its impacts
• Appropriate land use management policies and strategies
• Protection of sensitive environmental areas
• Respect for community priorities and values
• REAL community involvement in decision making
• Support for agriculture and tourism industries

Rotary 4-Way-Test
• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and better
FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Coal Seam Gas Mining
What it is
Coal Seam Gas is also referred to as
• Coal Bed Methane
• Unconventional Gas
It is extracted from the coal seam by drilling through layers of rock into the coal seam and then forcing the methane to become separated from the coal and rise to the surface through the well. Water rises with the methane.

Fracking – What is it?
Fracking = Hydraulic fracturing.
Water (with additives) is pumped under pressure into coal seams to release the methane gas that is attached to the coal.

Who is concerned about CSG mining besides NRG?
• Tweed, Lismore, Kyogle, Ballina & Byron Councils
• Rous Water
• Regional Development Australia – Northern Rivers
• Destination Tweed (was Tweed Tourism)
• NSW Canegrowers Association
• Combined Tweed Rural Industries Association
• NSW Farmers Association
• National Farmers Federation
• Caldera Environment Centre & various other groups
• Thousands of local residents
• Many thousands across Australia
• Millions around the world

CSG mining in Australia

CSG mining in NSW

CSG mining in Northern NSW

CSG mining in Northern NSW

CSG mining in Northern NSW

CSG mining in Northern NSW

CSG mining in Tweed Shire
Existing Exploration Lease Application lodged

CSG mining in Tweed Shire
Existing + Application

What are the issues?
Environmental
Land use conflicts
Economic/industry conflicts
Community issues

Environmental issues
• Water (water table,
Aquifers, water quality, artesian bores, spillage of contaminated water)
• Leakage
• Climate Change
Impacts
• Conflict with environmental values
(National Parks, World
Heritage, Cultural heritage)

“The pond at
Dyraaba has a lining made of builder’s plastic that is ripped in places and overflowed in the January rains.
Reports of a possible third leaking test well, at the same site at Dyraaba, have added to concerns ...”
Metgasco tailing pond at Dyraaba near
Casino
Words & Picture from NR Echo Feb 2011

From a Cornell University Study
“The greenhouse gas footprint for shale gas is greater than that for conventional gas or oil when viewed on any time horizon, but particularly so over 20 years. … These methane emissions are at least 30% more than and perhaps more than twice as great as those from conventional gas.
”
Methane and the Greenhouse-Gas Footprint of Natural Gas from
Shale Formations
By Robert W. Howarth, Renee Santoro, and Anthony Ingraffea
Cornell University, April 2011

Economic / Industry issues
• Agriculture
• Tourism
- eco-tourism
• Other industries

Land use issues
• Mining vs agriculture
• Landowners control over land
• Impact of drilling on individual landholding and neighbours
• Impact of drilling on land values

Community issues
• Community values and priorities
• Public health
• Local government exclusion
• Community say on development
• Land values

What are we calling for?
A moratorium on all coal seam gas mining pending the findings of a Royal
Commission
Fully and independently assess:
• the science behind this technology and
• the impacts on communities, health, environment, agriculture and other industries

Developments here and overseas
Local government – Calls for a moratorium from
• Tweed, Lismore, Ballina, Byron & Kyogle Councils and Rous Water
• Destination Tweed, Northern Rivers Tourism & RDA Northern Rivers
NSW government
• New Policy – some limited changes
• Approvals process – 60 day freeze
Australian / Queensland governments
• Supportive of CSG
• Port facilities at Gladstone
• Sales to China & South Korea
Overseas
• France – BANNED
• England – SUSPENDED after earthquakes
• South Africa – BANNED in sensitive areas

Community action
• Giving the community a chance to express concerns
– United Community Gathering (Mur’bah)
– Stand in the Sand (Byron Bay)
– Community meetings
– National Day of Action
• Continue to build the alliance
– Lock the Gate Alliance
– Community Groups
– Industry groups (esp Agriculture, Tourism)
– Local government
• Political/legal action
- Lobbying
• Mining companies
• Local members (State & Federal)
• State and Federal Ministers
• State and Federal Opposition spokespeople
- Court action

National Day of Action
•Co-ordinated action across NSW
•Start of National Water Week
•Rallies in Sydney and rural/regional communities
•Sending a clear message to state and federal governments

What can you do?
• Learn more about the impact of coal seam gas mining
• Lock your Gate to the mining companies
• Talk to friends, neighbours and family about the issues
• Join Lock The Gate Alliance or the Northern Rivers
Guardians or any local group and become active in the campaign
• Donate to the campaign
• Email / Write to the mining companies telling them they are not wanted here and why
• Email / Write to state and federal ministers and opposition spokespersons
• Contact your local state and federal MPs expressing your concerns and calling for a moratorium / ban

Where to get more information
Lock the Gate Alliance www.lockthegate.org.au
Northern Rivers Guardians www.northernriversguardians.org