The group “Frack Free Tas” is holding a public meeting on Wednesday the 18th of February, at the Sustainable Living Tasmania Centre at 6pm, to inform the public about possible exploration for shale oil and gas. The current moratorium in Tasmania for fracking will end on the 31st of March 2015.
Three companies hold licenses to explore petroleum products as of 7 of July 2014. These companies are Overseas Energy Holdings, Terra Tasmania Resources and Petragas. Hydraulic fracturing, or “Fracking” is a modern technique of extracting petroleum products in Australia and has so far been used in NSW and QLD for coal seam gas extraction. Only two shale gas wells have been drilled in Australia.
Landholders need to know their rights in relation to exploration licences and also what happens when these resources are commercialised. We have been able to secure some of the most highly regarded speakers in their area of expertise for the meeting.
Rohan Church
Doctors for the Environment (DEA), Rohan is a junior doctor working at the North-West Regional Hospital in Tasmania. Rohan was the DEA National Student Representative in 2011-12 and as well as his Tasmanian roles is still assisting the student body of DEA in a mentoring capacity.
Aleah and Dr. Laurence Poncini
The Directors of the Didel Institute for Scientific Research and Development, Aleah and Laurence from the midlands in Tasmania have been conducting research on “fracking” and its effects on the environment. They are deeply concerned about radiation and other contamination that “fracking” will have on Tasmania’s ‘clean water’ and agricultural industry.
Sarah Wilson
Sarah is the Communications and Education lawyer for The Environmental Defenders Office. She has recently published a guide to mining law and a handbook for rural landowners.
If you want more information on this industry and its potential risks to the environment, hydrology, community and their health we urge you to attend this information session.
• Isla MacGregor, in Comments: A [i]Tasmanian Mine Legacies Tour[/i] is being run from 14-20 April and this year will focus on West Coast mines only. The focus of the tour will be the ongoing severe impacts of mine legacy sites on waterways and groundwater. Fracking will most certainly pose an additional threat to our groundwater and waterways and we already have too mnay contaminated waterways as it is. For further information on the tour contact: [email protected]
