Fracking in WA

WA Greens outraged over state government’s continual support of fraccing.

The West Australian Greens have expressed outrage over Bill Marmion’s continual support of onshore gas fraccing.

Marmion, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, celebrated a new discovery of gas in the mid-west today, citing its potential to revitalise a declining gas field and providing the state with a safe and affordable future.

Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region, Robin Chapple disagrees, explaining how the gas industry is in fact highly unsustainable.

“Gas is a fossil fuel, to mine it is not only unsustainable, but poses alarming environmental and health risks, such as water and soil contamination which lead to human and animal health problems.

“Minister Marmion, is this the future you want for our community? asked Mr Chapple.

Marmion also commented on the gas shortage faced by NSW, proudly explaining how WA is going to avoid this ‘crisis’.

“The aforementioned gas crisis has been shown to be fabricated in an attempt to scare voters into accepting a coal seam gas industry, explained Mr Chapple.

“Bill Marmion is simply copying the scare-tactics used by [NSW federal industry minister] Ian Macfarlane, an approach which won’t work in West Australia.

Mr Marmion’s comments come on the back of recent figures released by BP showing that even after the shale-gas revolution in America, emission intensity hasn’t seen a significant reduction.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255.

Rural communities make a stand against fracking

Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral region Robin Chapple MLC will be in Geraldton this weekend celebrating the Community of Central Greenough’s decision to become Western Australia’s first Gasfield Free Community.

Just south of Geraldton, the Central Greenough Community made the decision to oppose unconventional gas mining unanimously after a survey of all residents found 96.2% were in favour of taking action.

Mr Chapple said he was privileged to be a part of such an important initiative, given it was the first of its kind in Western Australia.

“It’s fantastic to see communities in the Mid-West standing up for their rights,” he said.

“It sends a message to both the government and companies involved in prospective drilling right now that they can’t just do what they like where people’s livelihoods are concerned.

“I have serious concerns about fracking, especially when it is in such close proximity to our prime agricultural land.

“The practice of hydraulic fracturing not only uses an incredible amount of water for each ‘frack’, up to 34 million litres, but also comes with a significant risk of contamination to ground and surface water due to the use of dangerous chemicals throughout the process.

“None of these concerns are being properly addressed or acknowledged by the EPA or the Department of Mines and Petroleum, and certainly not by the companies out there drilling for gas right now.

Mr Chapple said Greenough’s declaration was part of a growing defiance amongst regional West Australians over the advance of unconventional gas.

Earlier this week significant concerns were raised by residents of Green Head, a Mid-West coastal community 260km North of Perth, about the proximity of proposed unconventional gas exploration 4 kilometres from the town’s drinking water supply.

“This whole situation is alarming and, in my mind, a clear conflict of interest” he said.

“There’s been no assessment of the potential risk of water contamination to the Mount Peron Water Reserve, Green Head’s only drinking water resource, yet they’ve already allowed a well to be drilled.

“And the EPA believes potential environmental consequences can be adequately assessed and mitigated by the Department of Mines and Petroleum, who are actively advocating for unconventional gas exploration across our entire state.

“I am inspired by communities like Greenough and Green Head and will continue to do all I can to support and advocate for their cause, and a greater state-wide ban on unconventional gas.”

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255.

Unconventional gas NOT a renewable form of energy

Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC has responded with bafflement to a recent claim by the WA Mines and Petroleum Minister that unconventional gas is a renewable resource.

“Oh dear, it seems the WA Minister for Mining and Petroleum has not the faintest idea about what constitutes a renewable energy source. No wonder the State Government has such a poor record when it comes to transitioning WA from being dependent on non-renewable fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy,” Mr Chapple said.

In a recent ABC radio interview (RN Breakfast, 31 July 2014) about fracking in the Canning Basin for unconventional gas (tight gas, shale gas, coal seam gas), Minister Bill Marmion commented: “…a lot of mischievous comments are being made by people who don’t like renewable energy but I have to say that gas is a very clean fuel…”

“For the benefit of the Minister, let me explain that renewable energy is that which comes from resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale including sunlight, wind, tides, waves and geothermal heat.

“It does not include coal, petroleum or any kind of gas, whether it is conventional or unconventional.

“The use of renewable energy technology can result in significant energy security, climate change mitigation and economic benefits but this Government, blinkered as it is by the fossil fuel lobby, which includes those companies wishing to exploit unconventional gas reserves, refuses to pursue these advantages on behalf of the people of WA.

“One thing is certain, the longer we continue down this track, the more out of date we will become, and the more deserving Minister Marmion will be of the title ‘King of the Dinosaurs’,” Mr Chapple said.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

 

 

APPEA misleading public on CSG

Thursday 24 July 2014

Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC has refuted claims by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA), following a report published in the United States Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that Coal Seam (CSG) and Shale gas have “environmental benefits”.

“Whilst it may be true that the life cycles of CSG and Shale gas produce less carbon emissions than coal-fired electricity generation, it is utter rubbish to claim that them as “environmentally beneficial”,” he said.

“APPEA is trying to mislead Australians with material such as this into backing what is ultimately an under-researched and environmentally hazardous method of producing electricity for our state.

Mr Chapple said a comparison between the greenhouse gas emissions of CSG life cycles and renewable energy alternatives would be much more informative.

“This is the kind of document our government will use to throw weight behind the fracking movement in Western Australia,’ he said.

“I would love to see a financial and environmental comparison between CSG and solar or wind – both renewable energy resources of which our state has ample reserves!”

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 9486 8255

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