CSG or water? Be wary, Tasmania

Pilliga CSG wastewater spill

Angus Bretherick, of Tara, with rash his family said was caused when CSG water was used to suppress dust on local roads. Source: The Courier-Mail

Given that Tasmania already has issues with clean water supplies in places, adding to the risks with any sort of mining waste or aquifer depletion or contamination would seem shortsighted to say the least. Crazy?

If you saw the Four Corners CSG program (Monday 1st) you’ll know what I mean. Unfortunately those people and places under impact or threat from CSG on the show are all familiar to me. The chapter in my book, ‘Rich Land, Wasteland,’ that deals with Gloucester is called ‘Allowing the unthinkable’. The farmer holding back tears is John Rosenbaum, coal and CSG-refugee, now Mayor of Gloucester, a great bloke, and key interviewee in that chapter.

Tasmania’s pioneer CSG company, Pure Energy, was sold to the much bigger BG Group (British Gas). They’re busy in Queensland right now, but prospects here (around Fingal) were considered good, and you already have the pipeline.

Be wary, Tasmanians, and set up CSG-Free Communities now. No social licence – in advance – makes companies consider twice, delays cost money, share prices fall, decisions are made to invest where an industry is welcome, because it’s considered risk-free. Four CSG companies have pulled out of problem areas in NSW after public resistance.

My book and the ‘Bimblebox’ documentary film aim to alert Australians of this national resources rush, and Tasmania is not immune by any means. It is not ‘only’ the Tarkine in their sights.

• I’m showing the film and speaking in Cygnet tomorrow night (Wednesday 3rd) at 7pm in the Supper Room at the Cygnet Town Hall and talking about my book at the Hobart Bookshop at 5.30pm on Thursday 4th.

• Larissa Waters, Greens Senator for Queensland: Enough is Enough