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Written by Pauline
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Friday, 16 October 2009 07:38 |
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 The biennial report from the National Water Commission shows that Australia's water system reform continues to be plagued by "interstate bickering", "slow intergovernmental processes" and "states [that] lack adequate policy and implementation resources".
One of its key findings was however that "It should be assumed that groundwater and surface water are connected, unless it can be proved otherwise." Quite so. Roll on our Independent, Catchment-wide Water Study.
And in recognition of their undeniable impact on water resources, one of NWC recommendations was that "it's time to bring the mining industry into water planning processes". Since the NSW Mining Act does not even mention the word "water" once, we applaud this approach! |
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Last Updated on Saturday, 17 October 2009 17:55 |
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Santos' Watery Presentation |
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Written by Pauline
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Friday, 16 October 2009 07:37 |
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LPSC Mining Consultative Ctte met with PR reps from Santos this Tuesday. Given the importance of the subject to the community, Santos were closely questioned about their expected water extraction, water quality, subsidence, their understanding of the interconnectivity of the MDB and GAB systems, the Mooki fault system and their plans for the salt produced. A definitive answer was however given to one question: there will be 3 more 'community meetings' but they will be 'one-on-one's' only....where have we heard that before? |
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Last Updated on Friday, 16 October 2009 07:45 |
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BHP recycles: old approach now 'new' |
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Written by rod
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Tuesday, 06 October 2009 19:01 |
Once again, "key stakeholders" have been sent a letter "seeking to understand [their] views about the possibility of establishing underground coal mining in the Caroona region" via face-to-face interviews , but this time with consultants brandishing a one page 'ethics guide'. So, the same old secrecy prevails - the ever hopeful 'divide and conquer' routine.
As we have always said, our community welcomes communication with BHP via public meetings, where all concerns, views and perspectives can be offered in the open. We are very confident that via such real community consultation, BHP and their high-priced helpers will be certain of "what other interests and concerns exist in the community and what [our] expectations are of [them]."
Real community consultation is what "key stakeholders" want. Bring it on. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 08 October 2009 06:33 |
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Written by rod
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Saturday, 10 October 2009 06:34 |
Woodside Petroleum's CEO Don Voelte has raised industry and investor eyebrows alike with his critical assessment of CSG projects. He suggests, now that the "coal-seam euphoria" phase is over, that owners of CSG projects in Australia are "struggling" because the costs and technical requirements of this industry are much higher than initially estimated.
In particular, Mr Voelte candidly asked “What in the hell do you do with the water? You have to treat the water, and while some is clean, some is saline, some has magnesium and manganese and its really going to be a high-cost disposal issue".
Of course Voelte is a gas and oil man through and through, pushing LNG instead, but given his long experience, he knows a dud when he sees one and has, consequently, spent none of Woodside's cash on CSG.
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Senators Probe Mining Impacts |
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Written by Pauline
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Saturday, 03 October 2009 20:09 |
 The Senate enquiry into the Impacts of Mining in the Murray Darling Basin heard from mining representatives and landholders in Gunnedah on Monday. The Mining Council reps were closely questioned about current exploratory activities and agreed our water supplies were "obviously a very critical resource". However, they continued to labour the point for a case-by-case basis to mining assessments, precisely the sort of approach that has led to the massive environmental, water and community problems experienced in The Hunter and Southern coalfields because cumulative impacts to land and water are not taken into account.
The Senators questioned Kirrily Blomfield, Bridget Gallagher, Tim Duddy, Rosemary Nankivell and John Clements from Namoi Water about the potential for water diversion and the effects of coal and gas mining on the recharge ridges and shallow aquifers feeding agricultural water supplies. An ABC Radio interview is available here.
Shenhua which plans to open cut their area was not present, but is expected to provide a submission by early October. Santos and other gas producers were questioned the following day in Queensland where productive farming land is also at risk. A transcript of the proceedings will be available next week. |
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Last Updated on Saturday, 03 October 2009 20:19 |
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