Garrett delays Qld LNG projects | QLD News | Breaking News in Queensland
Garrett delays Qld LNG projects
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett says he wants time to study the environmental impacts of the proposed Curtis Island coal seam gas projects in Gladstone and offshore at Curtis Island.
BILLIONS of dollars of Queensland coal seam gas projects are on hold for three months so Environment Minister Peter Garrett can study their environmental impacts.
Mr Garrett has sought an additional three months to complete his assessments of the Santos and BG liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Gladstone and offshore at Curtis Island.
The extension will allow for comprehensive assessments under environment laws, and the follow up of deficiencies identified in the Queensland Coordinator General's report, which included potential damage to the Great Barrier Reef.
Extension of the deadline means the assessments, which Mr Garrett received at the end of June, won't be handed down until October 11, his spokesman told AAP.
"These are the first coal seam gas LNG projects that have been assessed under national environment law, and it's important that the potentially significant environmental impacts of this project on nationally protected matters are properly assessed," the spokesman told AAP.
"This is the same approach the minister has adopted for other major development proposals."
The Coordinator General's report, obtained by AAP, has identified possible environmental impacts because of the significant amount of water and salt removed from coal seams.
"I consider the strategies for managing CSG water as critical, as there is the potential for ongoing risks to streams, soils and landscapes, through inappropriate use and disposal of CSG water," the report said of BG's Curtis Island project.
"I am concerned that the cost to future generations will be substantial should rehabilitation works associated with CSG LNG industry activities be ineffectively undertaken.
"However, I am confident that the EP (Environmental Protection) Act administering authority will require the proponent to address these matters in an manner that will protect current and future generations of Queenslanders."
The report, which also separately assessed Santos' Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), states the Gladstone LNG proposal was not acceptable to the environment department.
"I am concerned about the discharge of brine and effluent into Port Curtis," the report said.
"The proponent has failed to consider the full range of utility infrastructure provision options including ... cumulative impacts to the World Heritage Area values as a result of associated with multiple LNG facilities on Curtis Island."
Comment is being sought from Santos.
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Posted by maz55 from Barney Point, Queensland
14 July 2010 1:21 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Hope Peter Garrett can save some of our Island, Harbour and all the sea life in and around it cause Anna just wants money at any cost. LNG will destroy our lifestyle, liesure and safety!
Posted by GraemeHenderson from Tara, Queensland
14 July 2010 1:27 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Well done Peter Garrett, of course it all means nothing if we don't stop the current development of the project, they are doing the damage now, before the approval is given, wells drilled, and leaking, aquifers being destroyed for generations to come, the short term profits will not pay for the damage being done. We need an immediate halt to all expansion work until approval is granted. If they are not stopped now it will be too late to ever fix the mess these international mining companies are causing, NOW! RIGHT NOW! as I write this I can hear a drilling rig at work destroying the aquifers here, it is disgusting that Anna Blight encourages this to happen. A moratorium on all work that has not been given final approval, now, let's get the horse back in front of the cart. And get these companies to start repairing the sites they have polluted before they were given the right to pollute.
Posted by maz55 from Barney Point, Queensland
14 July 2010 2:15 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Graeme Henderson is so correct - why are they allowed to carry out the destruction right now when there has been no Federal approval to do so? The same thing is happening on Curtis Island and in Gladstone Harbour - they have already started! It is amazing what foreign companies can do and nobody in Gladstone is asking WHY? We are depending on you Peter and only you, to protect our environment and our future.
Posted by PandR from Tablelands, Queensland
14 July 2010 2:47 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Shame on you Peter Garrett and Federal Labor. Shame about the thousands of jobs, including jobs for my kids. I worked in one of these plants, and they are amazingly pollution free and safe. The fish and sea grass in the harbor bred like crazy attracting all sorts of wildlife including dolphins and dugong, great for fishermen. And the drilling sites took up these tiny plots around the bush, doing very little environmental damage, unlike the farmers. At that plant, the surrounding bush was made into a wildlife reserve, with a boom in the local monkey, bird and other wildlife populations. They used come into my yard. Gladstone is exceptionally lucky to have been chosen for this industry based on my experience. I will not vote for Peter Garrett's Party in Canberra. .
Posted by AussieMike from Gladstone, Queensland
14 July 2010 3:43 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Finally someone is doing something about the CSG WATER... if these LNG companies are made to use Reverso Osmosis Plants, then there would be no need for a PIPELINE from Rockhampton to Gladstone... And this water could be used buy industry out Yarwun way... WAKE UP GLADSTONE COUNCIL
Posted by brianbarry123 from Maroochydore, Queensland
14 July 2010 5:17 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
juat a quick question to GraemeHenderson. If the gas companies are destrying the watertables by letting gas enter the table then why did I learn back in grade 4 in the late 1950's that a lot of the artesion basin bores were full of gas?
Posted by Mariposa from Coolum Beach, Queensland
14 July 2010 5:31 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
For one that cares about his kids PandR sends a mixed message. What about destruction of the Darling Downs as a food bowl due to saline runoff from CSG production?
Its the one dimensional attitude of comments like this that account for the trouble the Australian environment is now in. Of course Peter Garrett should do his duty and delay this madness. The shame is that Anna Bligh and Andrew Fraser are incapable of doing their duty to protect Queensland's fragile environment in the interests of the short term dollar. Could this all be a repeat of the Traveston Dam fiasco?
Posted by GraemeHenderson from Tara, Queensland
14 July 2010 6:25 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
brianbarry123 from Maroochydore. There is of course a natural presence of Methane in some aquifers, but that is nothing compared with what this filthy industry is releasing. And they are also injecting toxic material into the coal seams that also escape into the aquifers. When they take out all the water, the gas that is now secure, is released and it makes it way to the surface any way it can. Estimates say 50% of the gas in the coal seam will end up in the atmosphere, at 35 times the strength of CO2 as a Greenhouse Gas this is a global disaster.
This industry is a disaster, this method of mining must be banned and it's proponents must be made to clean up the mess they have already made.
Or, you could do some research Brian, you will find the answers are out there, and they are nothing like the dishonest claims made by the mining companies.
Do you Brian, think that it is ok to destroy the Great Artesian Basin for many many generations to come? Do you think the short term profits will somehow cover the long term costs? Do you profit from this mining?
And how do you plan to keep the 150000000000 tons of dirty salt of out the environment for the rest of time? Why should people like me be forced to live in a gas field. I would never move here now, and I can't sell to move, do you think this is ok Brian? Why do the mining companies not operate under the EP act? Why are they exempt from laws that protect us? What is in the Fraccing fluid Brian? What mine has ever be rehabilitated to the way it was before the dirty miners moved in?
I have many more questions, and I have read the EIS, it was supposed to inform me, but it is that shonky it is worthless.