<
https://theconversation.com/if-fracking-begins-in-the-kimberley-it-could-damage-a-sacred-river-274631>
"Under the soils of the Kimberley lies one of the world’s last undeveloped
large-scale reservoirs of onshore gas, according to the gas company hoping to
extract it.
Last month, the Western Australian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
recommended approval for Bennett Resources, a subsidiary of Black Mountain
Energy, to begin exploration by drilling 20 wells across ten sites near the
Kimberley’s Martuwarra Fitzroy River and applying hydraulic fracturing
(fracking).
If officially approved and results are favourable, exploration is likely just
the start. The company – majority-owned by US oil and gas company Black
Mountain – wants to begin full-scale production to extract an estimated 420
billion cubic metres of gas. Doing so would require hundreds or thousands of
wells drilled into many aquifers, with connecting roads, gas processing plants,
wastewater ponds, water treatment plants, compressor stations and new
pipelines.
For the mining-friendly WA government, the economic benefits would appeal. But
the EPA’s recommendation has triggered an immediate backlash from Aboriginal
and environmental groups. The Office of Appeals Commissioner reports an
unprecedented number of appeals have been lodged before the February 10
deadline.
As health and Indigenous knowledge experts, we have real concern about these
plans. We now know much more about the harms fracking can do to the health of
humans, wildlife, groundwater and rivers."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
